Why We Built a 3-Day Aircraft Detailing Certification (And Who It's For)

Updated October 2026 · By Brett Berry, founder of Shiny Jets

The Shiny Jets 3-Day Aircraft Detailing Certification is a Friday-to-Sunday, hands-on course at Threshold Aviation, Chino Airport (CNO), in Chino, California. It costs $4,995, caps the class at 10 students, and trains you on Gulfstream-class jets. You earn the same station-verified certification as the 5-Day Masterclass, without the business setup sessions.

The most common thing we heard after people looked at the 5-Day Masterclass was some version of the same response: "I want this, but I can't take a full week off work."

That's not a money problem. That's a logistics problem, and it's a real one. Five consecutive weekdays at a training facility in Chino means flights, hotel, five days away from your business or your job, and a schedule that only works if your life lines up perfectly.

Most people's lives don't line up perfectly.

So we built the 3-Day Aircraft Detailing Certification: the same hands-on training on real Gulfstream-class jets, compressed into a Friday-Saturday-Sunday format that works around the way working detailers actually live.

What is the 3-Day aircraft detailing course?

Three consecutive days of supervised hands-on aircraft detailing at Threshold Aviation, Chino Airport (CNO), California. No laptops. No video lessons. No business setup sessions. Just you, real aircraft, and the same certification standard we use in the 5-Day program.

The class is split into two groups that rotate at lunch, so every student gets full time on every station instead of half a day watching someone else work. By the end of Day 3 you've cleaned, decontaminated, paint-restored, ceramic-coated and brightwork-polished a business jet under direct instructor supervision.

Then you walk out certified.

What's covered each day?

Day 1 is aircraft interior: maintenance cleaning, leather conditioning, seat belts, stitching, and the full carpet extraction process done the right way. Day 2 moves outside: aircraft exterior wash, paint decontamination, paint restoration, and de-ice boot servicing using multiple product systems. Day 3 is brightwork polishing, aircraft protection products, ceramic coating application, and the final certification practical.

Every station is inspected. Every sign-off is earned. You don't move forward with unverified work. You also go home with written standard operating procedures for the services you learned.

How is the 3-Day different from the 5-Day?

The 5-Day Masterclass includes four afternoon business setup sessions: CRM configuration, directory listing, website planning, pricing structure and client acquisition strategy. By the end of Thursday your business is already running. The 5-Day also includes suede cleaning, window polishing, and the full Shiny Jets online course with lifetime access.

The 3-Day course doesn't include any of that. No online course. No business setup sessions. No CRM onboarding. What it includes is three full days of hands-on aircraft detailing technique on real jets, and the same certification that comes out of the 5-Day program.

	3-Day Certification	5-Day Masterclass
Price	$4,995	$7,500 starting with the November class ($6,995 through the October class)
Schedule	Friday–Sunday	Monday–Friday
Location	Threshold Aviation, Chino Airport (CNO)	Threshold Aviation, Chino Airport (CNO)
Certification	Same station sign-off and final practical	Same station sign-off and final practical
Directory listing	Yes	Yes
Shiny Jets CRM Business and the Pricing App	12 months	12 months
Online course	No	Lifetime access
Business setup sessions	No	4 afternoon sessions
Meals and hotel	Lunches, snacks and beverages included every day; hotel and travel not included	Lunches, snacks and beverages included every day; hotel and travel not included
Best for	Working detailers moving into aircraft	Starting from zero and building the full business

If you're already running a detailing business and just need the aviation certification and the aircraft-specific skills, the 3-Day is built for you. If you're starting from zero and need the full business stack, the 5-Day is the right call.

Who should take the 3-Day course?

The 3-Day is designed for working detailers: people who already understand chemistry, machine polishing and how to work on a painted surface, and who want to move into aircraft work the right way. Auto detailers, boat detailers, RV detailers. People who know what they're doing and just need the aviation-specific training and a legitimate certification behind their name.

It's also the right format for detailers who can't lose a full work week. The weekend schedule means you're back at your business Monday morning, certified, with your Shiny Jets directory listing live and 12 months of Shiny Jets CRM Business and the Pricing App ready to use.

How big is the class?

Ten students maximum. The 3-Day runs with two instructors and additional support staff, so every student gets real attention at every station. It's small by design, because aircraft detailing certification done right requires eyes on the work, not a room full of people watching a demonstration.

What does the 3-Day course cost?

$4,995. Catered lunches are included all three days. Hotel and travel are on you; there are hotels 3–5 miles from Chino Airport, and we'll send the full list when you register.

The 5-Day is $6,995 through the October class and $7,500 starting with the November class. If the deciding factor is the weekend format or the price, the 3-Day gets you the same certification for $2,505 less starting with the November class ($2,000 less through October). Still deciding whether to train at all? Read Is aircraft detailing certification worth it?

Is the 3-Day certification the same as the 5-Day?

Yes, and it's worth saying clearly. The Station Sign-Off Card, the final practical and the instructor inspection standard are identical to the 5-Day program. A Shiny Jets certification from the 3-Day course means the same thing as one from the 5-Day course. The work was inspected. The standard was met. The certificate was earned.

If you're an aircraft owner, an FBO or a flight department looking at a detailer's credentials, a Shiny Jets certification is a Shiny Jets certification regardless of which program issued it. (Like every detailing certification, it is a private credential, not an FAA one; see our guide to becoming a certified aircraft detailer.)

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Shiny Jets 3-Day aircraft detailing certification?

$4,995, with catered lunches all three days. Hotel and travel are not included; hotels are 3–5 miles from Chino Airport.

Where is the 3-Day course held?

At Threshold Aviation, Chino Airport (CNO), 8352 Kimball Avenue, Chino, California.

What days does the 3-Day course run?

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so working detailers are back at their business on Monday.

Do 3-Day graduates get the same certification as 5-Day graduates?

Yes. The station sign-off card, final practical and instructor inspection standard are identical. The 5-Day adds the online course and four business setup sessions. Both come with 12 months of Shiny Jets CRM Business and the Pricing App.

How many students are in each 3-Day class?

Ten students maximum, with two instructors and additional support staff.

Reserve your seat

Ten seats per class. When it's full, it's full. If the 3-Day format is the right fit, lock in your seat before the class fills.

View dates and reserve your seat in the 3-Day Aircraft Detailing Certification.

Questions before you commit? Book a free call and we'll tell you exactly which program fits where you are right now.

---

About the author

Brett Berry has spent 15 years in aviation detailing and has cosmetically restored more than 28 warbirds. He founded Shiny Jets, the Fly Shiny product line and Shiny Jets CRM, wrote Beyond Shiny, and has been featured on the cover of InFlight USA. He trains detailers at Threshold Aviation, Chino Airport (CNO), Chino, California.