Ruag Marks Milestones on Legacy 500 Paint Job

A painting technique to prevent cracking along structural joints that was recently patented by Embraer has been performed by Ruag MRO International on a Legacy 500 during a standard full exterior repainting of the aircraft.

That makes Ruag MRO the Brazilian airframer’s first authorized service center to use the “game-changing” technique, according to the Switzerland-based MRO provider.

“Preserving an aircraft’s surface condition with a durable exterior finish is essential for continued airworthiness and operational reliability,” said Ruag MRO exterior sales manager Reinhard Imhoff. “Areas in need of exacting attention include the seams where two adjacent structural components come together. This new, anti-crack finish reinforcing system ensures a seamless, continuous, and stable finish.”

Embraer provided on-site training to Ruag MRO’s aircraft painting technical team on the technique that has been used on a number of aircraft since the patent was approved last year. The technique involves the use of a combination of joint sealants, fiber adhesives, and fiber composite materials.

The Legacy 500 exterior paint project was also a first for Ruag MRO on the type and was done at its Munich-Oberpfaffenhofen site for Bremen, Germany-based Atlas Air Service.