TAPE

Aircraft Tape & Aviation Tape Guide

Aircraft tape is used throughout aircraft maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO), manufacturing, and interior completion. From protecting aircraft surfaces during paint stripping to securing carpet, protecting leading edges, insulating electrical connections, and sealing or marking components, the right tape can be an important part of an aircraft maintenance technician's toolkit.

Business Aircraft Consumables (BAC) stocks a wide selection of aviation and aerospace tapes from manufacturers including 3M and Polyken. Our selection includes aluminum foil tape, fuel tank tape, erosion protection tape, electrical tape, masking tape, flame-retardant tape, protective surface tape, vinyl tape, PTFE thread seal tape, carpet tape, cargo liner tape, and other specialty tapes used in aircraft maintenance.

Aircraft tapes are not interchangeable. Tape should be selected based on the application, substrate, temperature, chemical exposure, flame or electrical requirements, adhesion, removability, and applicable aircraft or material specification. Always follow the applicable aircraft maintenance documentation and the tape manufacturer's technical data when selecting a product.

Aircraft Tape Types and Their Uses

The table below provides a quick reference to the major types of aviation tape available from BAC and explains how each is commonly used in aircraft maintenance.

How Aircraft Maintenance Technicians Use Tape

Tape is one of the most frequently used consumables in an aircraft maintenance environment. Unlike general-purpose hardware-store tape, aviation tapes are often selected for specific properties such as controlled adhesion, clean removability, temperature resistance, flame resistance, chemical resistance, abrasion resistance, or compliance with an aerospace or military specification.

Depending on the product, aircraft tape can be used during painting, surface preparation, electrical maintenance, fuel system work, interior installation, corrosion prevention, component protection, leading-edge protection, cargo compartment maintenance, and general shop operations.

Aircraft Tape for Paint and Surface Preparation

Masking tape and aluminum foil tape are commonly used during aircraft painting and chemical surface preparation. Masking tape helps establish clean paint lines and protects areas that should not receive paint, primer, or other coatings. Aluminum foil tape can be used to protect sensitive components during chemical paint stripping and electroplating operations.

The correct tape depends on the chemical process, surface, temperature, required dwell time, and removal requirements. A tape that works well for ordinary painting may not be appropriate for chemical stripping or other aggressive processes.

Aircraft Tape for Surface Protection

Aircraft surfaces can be vulnerable to scratches, abrasion, chemical exposure, and accidental damage during maintenance. Protective tapes such as Protex "Elephant Skin" are designed to provide temporary protection for windows, canopies, windshields, polished surfaces, and aircraft interiors.

Leading-edge erosion tape serves a different purpose. Products such as 3M 8672 are designed to protect vulnerable exterior surfaces from abrasion, erosion, UV exposure, and environmental wear. The product is specifically engineered as a polyurethane protective tape for demanding outdoor applications.

Aircraft Electrical Tape

Electrical tape is used extensively in aircraft electrical maintenance for insulation, protecting connections and splices, wire identification, and color coding. 3M Scotch Super 33+ and Scotch Vinyl Tape 35 are examples of electrical tapes available from BAC.

Tape selection should take into account the voltage, temperature, electrical properties, substrate, and applicable maintenance documentation. For example, Scotch Super 33+ is a 7-mil vinyl electrical tape rated for cable splices up to 600 volts and designed for continuous operation from 0°F to 220°F.

Aircraft Fuel Tank Tape

Fuel tank tape is a specialized category of aircraft tape. Polyken 231 is a high-performance polyethylene-coated cloth tape used in aircraft applications including covering rivets and sharp edges. It also provides waterproof packaging and sealing properties and conforms to PPP-T-60E, Type IV, Class 1.

Fuel system applications are highly specification-dependent. Always verify that the tape is approved for the particular aircraft, component, fuel system location, and maintenance procedure before use.

Aircraft Flame-Retardant Tape

Flame-retardant tapes are used in aircraft applications where resistance to flame or heat is required. BAC carries several specialized products, including silicone fusion tape meeting MIL-I-46852, Polyken 108FR aircraft carpet tape, and Polyken 290FR cargo pit tape.

These products are not interchangeable simply because they are all described as flame retardant. Construction, adhesive system, flame performance, temperature capability, and intended application vary by product.

How to Choose the Right Aircraft Tape

1. Identify the application. Determine whether the tape will be used for masking, protection, electrical insulation, sealing, marking, erosion protection, interior installation, or another purpose.
2. Check the substrate. Consider whether the tape will be applied to aluminum, painted metal, composite materials, acrylic, polycarbonate, glass, rubber, fabric, or another surface.
3. Consider temperature. Verify the continuous and intermittent temperature exposure expected during both application and service.
4. Consider chemical exposure. Determine whether the tape will encounter fuel, hydraulic fluid, solvents, cleaning chemicals, paint strippers, moisture, or other fluids.
5. Check adhesion requirements. Determine whether the application requires high adhesion, low tack, removable adhesion, or a clean-removing adhesive.
6. Verify the specification. Many aerospace tapes are manufactured to military, aircraft manufacturer, or industry specifications. Verify the exact specification required by the maintenance procedure.
7. Consider removal. For temporary masking and protection, clean removal without adhesive residue can be just as important as initial adhesion.

Aircraft Tape vs. General-Purpose Tape

Not all tape should be considered suitable for aircraft maintenance. Aviation tapes are often selected for specific performance requirements that may not be provided by ordinary consumer or hardware-store tapes.

Depending on the application, an aircraft tape may need to provide controlled adhesion, resistance to temperature or chemicals, flame-retardant performance, electrical insulation, abrasion resistance, clean removal, or compliance with a specific aerospace or military specification.

When a maintenance manual, engineering drawing, service bulletin, or other approved documentation specifies a particular tape or specification, use the specified material or an approved alternative rather than substituting a general-purpose product.

Aircraft Tape FAQs

What types of tape are used in aircraft maintenance?

Aircraft maintenance uses many different types of tape, including masking tape, aluminum foil tape, electrical tape, fuel tank tape, erosion protection tape, flame-retardant tape, surface protection tape, vinyl tape, PTFE thread seal tape, carpet tape, cargo liner tape, and specialty aerospace tapes.

What is aircraft speed tape?

"Speed tape" is a common industry term for certain aluminum foil tapes used in aviation. BAC carries Polyken 345SW aluminum foil tape, which is described as aircraft speed tape and is used for applications including masking during paint stripping and electroplating. Always follow the applicable maintenance documentation when using any tape on an aircraft.

What is aircraft fuel tank tape?

Aircraft fuel tank tape is a specialized tape used in certain fuel-system maintenance and protection applications. Polyken 231 is a polyethylene-coated cloth tape that meets PPP-T-60E and is used to cover rivets and sharp edges as well as for sealing and packaging applications.

What tape is used to protect aircraft leading edges?

Polyurethane erosion protection tapes such as 3M 8672 are designed to protect aircraft leading edges and other exposed surfaces from abrasion, erosion, UV exposure, and environmental wear.

What tape is used for aircraft electrical wiring?

Vinyl electrical tapes such as 3M Scotch Super 33+ and Scotch Vinyl Tape 35 are used for electrical insulation, wire and cable applications, connections, splices, and color coding. The specific tape should be selected according to the electrical and aircraft maintenance requirements.

What is Protex "Elephant Skin" tape?

Protex protective paper, sometimes called "Elephant Skin" or "Elephant Hide," is used to protect aircraft windows, canopies, windshields, and interior or exterior surfaces from damage during maintenance. BAC stocks common P10V and P20V sizes.

Can I use ordinary duct tape on an aircraft?

General-purpose duct tape should not automatically be substituted for an aerospace or military-grade tape. Aircraft applications may require specific adhesive, temperature, flame, chemical, tensile, or specification requirements. Always follow the applicable maintenance documentation when selecting a tape.

Shop Aircraft Tape at BAC

BAC stocks a wide selection of aircraft and aviation tapes for maintenance, repair, MRO, manufacturing, and interior applications. Shop 3M and Polyken aluminum foil, fuel tank, erosion, electrical, masking, flame-retardant, protective, vinyl, and specialty tapes.

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