Cadmium (CAD) plating is an important component to the corrosion prevention plan for your aircraft. CAD plating provides a sacrificial layer of protection to the base metal exhibiting excellent corrosion resistance, lubricity, and adhesion. This protective layer can degrade over time, decreasing its ability to ward off corrosion damage to expensive landing gear components. The following conditions all contribute to CAD plating degradation.

Environmental Exposures

• Moisture and humidity, especially when sulfur is present, can degrade CAD plating.
• Exposed CAD plating can oxidize over time, degrading its effectiveness.
• Chemicals and salt exposure, especially the type found in runway de-icing fluid, and even salt-laden air in coastal environments can damage unprotected CAD layers.
• Thermal expansion and contraction during flight cycles can cause micro-cracking and/or loosen the surface adhesion of CAD plating over time.

Mechanical Damage

• Impact or abrasion exposing the underlying steel to corrosion.
• Repeated contact, vibration, and movement can wear down CAD plating.
• Landing gear operational stresses and normal extension and retraction cycles can lead to wear or fretting of the plating.
• Paint removal processes during the landing gear overhaul event can compromise the protective layer of CAD plating to some degree.

Improper Maintenance Practices

• Harsh chemical cleaners or solvents: Using non-approved cleaning agents can degrade cadmium plating or remove protective sealants.
• Improper touch-up or overcoating: Incompatible primers, topcoats, or poor surface preparation can compromise adhesion and protection.

West Star knows that our customers value the availability of their aircraft the most. We also value quality and reliability for our customers. In a successful effort to fulfill those needs, West Star Aviation’s Grand Junction, CO, landing gear shop invested in the corrosion prevention plan for all of our landing gear overhaul customers, without sacrificing turn-time. Our in-house CAD plating line affords us the ability to control the quality, turn-time, and cost of CAD plating your expensive steel landing gear components. The Grand Junction shop also supports the CAD plating needs of our Chattanooga, TN, landing gear shop, ensuring the same high-quality, reliable product no matter which location works best for the customer.

Adding CAD plating to our capabilities was no easy task. With environmental risks, the EPA and local authorities were involved every step of the way to ensure minimal to no environmental impact. The effort was worth the extreme improvement in quality, cost, and turn-time of the landing gear overhaul product we offer to our great customers here at West Star.

Now, when you entrust West Star Aviation with your landing gear overhaul, the CAD plating on ALL steel components and hardware of your landing gear is restored to OEM standards, ensuring it meets certified airworthiness requirements. New CAD plating provides an excellent base for topcoats, ensuring better adhesion and durability. It’s a huge added value to preserving the longevity of your landing gear, ensuring the best possible corrosion prevention between overhauls included with our base overhaul price (a $10,000 to $15,000 value) at no additional charge.

West Star adheres to applicable OEM guidelines for CAD plating processes. Our process follows standards widely accepted by the military, aviation, and marine industries. Hydrogen embrittlement is a concern in the CAD plating process. To ensure a high-quality, damage-free product, we perform a de-embrittlement bake and NDT on all high-strength steel components.