Nothing in the design of an airplane is done arbitrarily and it is that all the decisions that are made in the aeronautical industry pursue the optimization of two fundamental aspects: maximizing safety and minimizing cost . The color that airplanes are painted in is no exception to this rule.
From a safety point of view, there is no evidence that justifies that aircraft painted white are safer, otherwise the regulations would force all aircraft to be painted in this color. It is the cost, therefore, the variable that will determine the color of the paint that the airlines use for their devices.
Thermal efficiency
White is of all colors the one that reflects sunlight the most, having better thermal efficiency and greater resistance to solar radiation.
From the point of view of thermal efficiency, the white painted surfaces are going to be those that least heat up, something that is very advantageous for aircraft. The fact is that a not inconsiderable part of the plane’s energy is destined to keep the cabin temperature pleasant. Thus, painting aircraft white saves fuel as less energy is used to cool the interior of the aircraft .
This property also explains why the walls of houses in warm regions are usually painted in light colors, finding landscapes as picturesque as the typical white villages of Andalusia.
Resistance to solar radiation is another important advantage of this color and it is that airplanes of other colors will need to be painted more frequently due to a faster deterioration of their surfaces , increasing the cost of maintenance.
Facilitates the inspection of aircraft
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), it is on white surfaces where surface damage produced in aircraft, such as cracks or dents, stands out most, since these are usually dark in color.
This does not mean that airplanes painted in other colors are less safe, but the white color does make it easier to carry out the visual inspection that is done between each flight and thus reduce the time of this.
In addition, there are several studies that ensure that birds distinguish white aircraft more easily, thus reducing the chances of impact with these during the take-off and landing stages. Again, this does not imply that the rest of the airplanes are less safe since they are designed to withstand the impact of a bird, but it is evident that when these incidents occur, they entail a significant economic cost.
Airplane weight reduction
Colorfully painted airplanes need more coats of paint to get the desired end result. A greater amount of paint means a greater weight added to the airplane, and greater weight, more fuel consumed in each journey.
On the other hand, aircraft purchase and sale operations are very common. When an airline buys an airplane, the cost of painting with corporate colors if it is white will be lower than if it is painted in bright colors, so a white airplane is sold at a higher price than another with the same characteristics painted a different color.
A question of marketing
For all that has been explained so far, it would seem a major mistake for an airline to decide to paint its planes in colors. However, it is a practice that in recent years has been carried out more and more frequently.
The reason for this trend is the increasing importance of reinforcing the brand image . Thus, while in white aircraft it will be difficult to identify the airline they belong to, in flashy aircraft it will be much easier. That is why more and more companies are breaking with chromatic monotony. As examples we can talk about the Dutch airline KLM whose planes are sky blue or Air New Zealand that uses black.
On other occasions, airlines go a step further, such as the case of the Japanese All Nippon Airways , which decided to paint three aircraft of the A380 model in the shape of a Hawaiian sea turtle, as a tribute to this North American country, on the occasion of the opening of the route that connects it with Tokyo.
