What Is a Verified Finish? Documented Aircraft Paint Correction
Updated October 2026 · By Brett Berry, founder of Shiny Jets
A Verified Finish is a documented four-stage aircraft paint correction and ceramic coating standard from Shiny Jets, delivered by Aircraft Salon. The paint is wet-sanded to remove orange peel, compounded, polished to a measured gloss level, then coated with Fly Shiny Pro Ceramic Coating, and every stage is recorded so the owner can see what was done.
Most aircraft details are done when the detailer says they're done. There's no documentation, no measured standard, and no way for an aircraft owner to know whether the work actually improved the condition of the paint or just made it look better for a while. Verified Finish was built to change that.
What's wrong with standard aircraft detailing?
Walk into most FBOs or maintenance facilities and you'll find aircraft that have been "detailed" repeatedly, yet the paint still looks flat, orange peel is still visible, and the ceramic coating applied six months ago is already failing.
The reason is simple: many detailers skip the hard part. They polish over orange peel instead of removing it. They apply ceramic coating over improperly prepared paint. They have no way to verify gloss before or after, so there's no accountability and no way to show the result met any standard.
Aircraft owners spend tens of thousands of dollars on paint correction and ceramic coatings with nothing to show for it except someone's word that the job was done right.
What are the four stages of a Verified Finish?
| Stage | What happens | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Wet sand | The surface is wet-sanded level to cut out orange peel. | Orange peel scatters light and reduces gloss. It cannot be polished away; it has to be cut out. |
| 2. Compound | Compounding removes the sanding marks. | This is where most of the correction work happens and clarity and depth come back. |
| 3. Polish to verified gloss | The surface is refined to its highest gloss, then gloss is measured and recorded. | Coating does not start until the measured gloss meets the Verified Finish standard. |
| 4. Ceramic coat | Fly Shiny Pro Ceramic Coating is applied to the verified surface. | The coating goes on properly prepared paint, not over imperfections. |
The key word is documented. Each stage is recorded, so the owner gets a record of what was done to the paint, not just a photo of the shine. To see what the correction stages look like on a real aircraft, watch our Kodiak 900 orange peel removal.
Why does Verified Finish matter for aircraft owners and flight departments?
For Part 91 owners and Part 135 operators, documentation turns paint correction from a "trust me" purchase into a recorded service. A Verified Finish gives owners confidence that:
- The orange peel was actually removed, not polished over
- The gloss standard was met and recorded before ceramic coating was applied
- The ceramic coating went onto a properly prepared surface
- The result is on record, not just someone's opinion that the job looks good
Why does Verified Finish matter for aircraft detailers?
For professional detailers, a documented standard is a way to stand out and justify premium pricing. Instead of competing on cost, you can show owners exactly what was done at each stage.
Shiny Jets CRM (Lite and above) helps you do that with jobs that hold before-and-after photos and completion and delivery reports you can send to the owner or flight department. Learn the correction methods themselves in Shiny Jets hands-on training.
How do you get a Verified Finish?
Verified Finish is delivered by Aircraft Salon, the paint correction and ceramic coating division of Shiny Jets. Because of the scope and precision required, it is offered on a selective basis, and the price depends on aircraft size and current paint condition.
Submit your aircraft details and request a quote at verifiedfinish.shinyjets.com. For other paint work, see our paint restoration and ceramic paint protection services, or read how to choose an aircraft ceramic coating.
Most aircraft details are done when the detailer says they're done. A Verified Finish is done when the measurements say it is.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Verified Finish?
A Verified Finish is a documented four-stage aircraft paint correction and ceramic coating standard from Shiny Jets, delivered by Aircraft Salon. The paint is wet-sanded to remove orange peel, compounded, polished to a measured gloss level, then coated with Fly Shiny Pro Ceramic Coating, and every stage is recorded so the owner can see what was done.
Is a Verified Finish the same as paint correction?
No. Paint correction is the work. A Verified Finish is a documented standard that includes paint correction (wet sanding and compounding), polishing to a measured gloss level and Fly Shiny Pro Ceramic Coating, with each stage recorded.
Why is wet sanding part of a Verified Finish?
Orange peel cannot be polished away. Wet sanding levels the paint so the orange peel is removed instead of polished over, which is what produces a flat, deeply reflective finish.
Who performs a Verified Finish?
Verified Finish is delivered by Aircraft Salon, the paint correction and ceramic coating division of Shiny Jets. Owners can request a quote at verifiedfinish.shinyjets.com.
How much does a Verified Finish cost?
Price depends on aircraft size and current paint condition. Submit your aircraft details at verifiedfinish.shinyjets.com for a custom quote.
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.
Por Brett Berry
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