Why Planes are Painted White?

Almost every day, we are fascinated to see airplanes flying in the sky, especially when we are with kids. Furthermore, whenever we would get a chance to visit the airport, we would always try to watch the airplanes standing next to one another on the ramp. Have we ever wondered why most planes are painted white? Why don’t the manufacturers paint them with different colors, it would make the airplane ramp look vibrant, won’t it? To clarify our confusion, let's explore the reasons for it It may sound strange but white planes are more efficient than dark planes. Airplanes are exposed to a heavy amount of sunlight, and white color reflects sunlight, protecting the plane from getting damaged. It also maintains the temperature of the plane by keeping the crew and passengers cool and safe. Now, just imagine this with the darker airplanes. Dark colors have thermal effects, and therefore, the temperature of the plane won’t be maintained. I hope you would never like to travel in a hot atmosphere, would you? The white color allows the repairers to see the damage that occurred on the body of the airplanes. With white color, dents, rust spots, or cracks are easily identified than that of the darker colors. It saves time and cost in the care and maintenance of the planes. White paint reduces the probability of the plane getting hit by the birds. Although hitting a bird may seem quite ordinary to some people but it can cause great havoc during flight, so to ensure the safety of the plane, lighter paints are used. Lighter paint enhances the background between flying birds and the plane, so the chances of hitting birds are minimized. However, dark paint may not be favorable in this regard, it can cause difficulty for both the pilot and the birds. Dark paint is heavier than white paint as it has more pigments in it. Moreover, darker airplanes need a heavy amount when it comes to their cleaning and maintenance, so we can say that it is not budget-friendly. Darker airplanes have to be repainted more frequently whereas, white airplanes stay white for a long time. To sum up, we can clearly say that, although it becomes boring for us to see different airplanes of the same light colors, it is cost-effective and safe, not only for the airline companies but for the passengers as well.