Restoration for Aircraft Interiors: Sustainable Innovation by Color Glo

Airlines and operators face a simple but expensive choice each time a cabin ages: renew what you have or start over. Color Glo International has spent decades proving that precision restoration can look and perform like new while saving money, time, and emissions. Our comprehensive services are designed to extend the life of the interior space without compromising on quality. That message is front and center in Aerospace & Defense Review’s profile of Color Glo, which spotlights how careful engineering and eco-friendly chemistry are reshaping aircraft interiors.

What the feature article gets right about modern cabin renewal

The publication underscores two points that matter to maintenance leaders. First, restoration is no longer a patch-and-pray exercise. Color Glo’s technicians work to exacting standards, matching OEM colors and textures with layered, water-based coatings that are non-flammable, low odor, and low VOC. The goal is a surface that looks like it left the factory, not an obvious touch-up. CGI's aviation products are designed to dry quickly, cutting aircraft downtime and keeping on-wing repairs efficient.

Second, sustainability is designed into the process. Rather than discarding worn leather, vinyl, or plastic, Color Glo reuses the existing substrates and refinishes the topcoat. The company emphasizes water-based, non-toxic systems across its franchise network, with aviation-approved chemistries used in private, corporate, and commercial fleets. Because the work is mobile and performed on-site, operators avoid shipping seats or panels to a shop, trimming both emissions and schedule risk.

Renew vs replace: a practical comparison

Consider how budgets and schedules behave when you refinish rather than re-buy a certified component. The differences add up fast.

Factor	Refurbish with on-site restoration services	Replace with new components
Direct Cost	Uses existing leather/vinyl/plastics; limited new material	New certified parts, foam, trim, and hardware
Downtime	Quick-dry, on-wing work: limited disruption	Removal, shipping, install, and paperwork cycles
Compliance	FAA/EASA-approved processes maintain burn certs	New parts are certified; older discarded parts become waster
Environmental impact	Minimal waster, fewer new materials; lower VOCs	Higher carbon footprint from manufacturing and logistics
Visual outcome	Color-matched and texture-matchd to OEM look, preserving the original cabin space	OEM fresh look, but at a premium price and longer lead time

After hundreds of aircraft and thousands of seats, a pattern emerges: restoration cuts material use and turnaround time while preserving cabin consistency. Independent estimates put private jet re-covering alone in the mid four to low five figures per seat, so avoiding full replacements can free significant budget headroom.

Color Glo’s guarantee is telling here: our finishes are expected to wear as well as the original. Operators that schedule annual touch-ups report interiors that still present like new after years of service.

After living with both strategies, maintenance leaders usually favor targeted restoration for non-structural cabin items.

• High-wear zones: armrests, bolsters, drink rails, tray tables, and seatbacks.

• Color consistency: re-dye to original codes, eliminating patchwork replacements.

• Schedule: on-site work while the aircraft is in for routine checks or overnight.

Plastic, leather, and fabric: how the work actually gets done

Aircraft interior repair is a broad term. In practice, it means component-level precision.

Plastic and composite trim such as sidewalls, shrouds, and bezels can be cleaned, lightly abraded, filled where scuffed or nicked, and refinished with water-based coatings tuned to the original sheen. Because the substrate stays in place, alignment and fit are unchanged.

Leather seat restoration goes deeper than conditioner. Technicians repair cuts and worn spots, re-texture micro-cracks, and re-dye to the original color so the topcoat blends across the entire panel. In addition, the company’s specialized aircraft leather repair ensures that even high-quality leathers regain their luxurious look without compromising on flammability or safety. The chemistry is odor-free and non-flammable, a must in tight cabins. Fabrics and headliners receive careful cleaning and spot repair; if fibers are intact, color-restoration brings back uniform tone and brightness.

The objective is simple: preserve the OEM design language while renewing the surfaces people see and touch. That is where exact color matching and thin, layered finishes matter. Repairs disappear, crew and passengers notice only a clean, consistent cabin, and the part stays in service longer.

Common cabin items that respond well to restoration include:

• Armrests and bolsters

• Seat cushions and backs

• Sidewalls and window reveals

• Tray tables and drink rails

• Cockpit yokes and panels

• Headliners and select soft goods

Compliance without compromise

Cabin cosmetics cannot come at the expense of safety documentation. Color Glo integrates its work with FAA/EASA requirements through a repair-station quality system operated with Aero Interior Maintenance (AIM). That process guards against the silent risk that haunts ad hoc interior work: lost or invalid burn certificates.

AIM’s guidance is candid. Any cleaning, dyeing, or repair done outside a documented, approved process can devalue an aircraft, because flame, smoke, and toxicity qualifications are tied to the exact configuration and materials in service. With the Color Glo and AIM framework, every product is tracked from origin to use, and the work is logged with FAA Form 813-3 or an appropriate logbook entry. Existing flammability approvals remain intact, and operators retain a clean paper trail.

The upshot: “FAA approved interior repair” is not marketing copy; it’s a documented method that keeps your aircraft airworthy on paper as well as in practice.

Economics and sustainability are moving in the same direction

The price of new cabin components has climbed, strained by supply chain limits and higher material costs. Airlines have responded by refreshing cabins at scale to keep fleets productive while waiting on new aircraft. Recent reports highlight multi‑billion dollar refurb programs and capacity-boosting retrofits across major carriers. Market analysts reflect the same story: the refurbishing segment is sizable and growing, with North America and Europe leading on scale and spend.

Restoration reduces landfill waste and cuts embodied carbon, because the heaviest impact in a seat or panel is the original manufacturing. Reusing that substrate avoids new hides, foams, plastics, and their shipping footprint. Industry sources show large CO₂ deltas between new and recycled or restored surfaces, with potential weight savings translating to fuel savings over time.

Color Glo’s contribution sits squarely in a circular model. Keep products in service longer, reduce new material demand, and minimize harmful emissions by using water-based, low-VOC, non-flammable coatings. Color Glo's mobile model helps too, since fewer parts are trucked to shops, and the aircraft can return to revenue service faster.

How Color Glo’s footprint spans aircraft categories

The franchise network covers work on personal, corporate, and commercial aircraft, along with government and military fleets where allowed. That reach matters because cabin wear patterns differ by mission. A Gulfstream that logs long sectors sees different stress points than a regional jet with 10 turns a day. In both cases, on-site service helps operators capture downtime windows, from overnight checks to A/B maintenance events, while preserving the optimum use of available space for passengers.

Competitively, Color Glo plays a distinct role next to seat OEMs and large MROs in aircraft restoration. While providers like Recaro now offer in-house overhauls and specialists like Aviationscouts rebuild surplus seating, a mobile surface-restoration team complements those paths by tackling the everyday scuffs and wear that trigger passenger complaints and brand risk. It’s the missing middle between full reconfiguration and letting wear accumulate.

Search terms maintenance leaders actually use

When teams go hunting for solutions, the questions are concrete. That’s why you’ll see phrases like aircraft interior repair, aircraft seat restoration, refurbish vs replace airline seats, mobile aircraft interior repair, water-based aviation dyes, and FAA approved interior repair embedded throughout this discussion. These reflect real decision points: cost, downtime, regulatory safety, and the passenger experience. In addition, queries often include terms like aircraft leather repair as maintenance leaders seek trusted methods and services to extend the life of high-value cabin components.

Techniques and tools that keep raising the bar

Color Glo’s method evolves through product R&D and field practice. Over the years, the company expanded its formulations from a handful to more than 100, tuned for different substrates and gloss levels. In the hangar, faster color-matching tools, better fillers, and improved quick-cure coatings shave hours off each task. That incremental speed matters to dispatch, and the visual quality helps operators protect cabin ratings and NPS scores.

The broader industry is also steering toward circularity, prioritizing reuse and repair where safe and practical. Cabin experts point to reuse as a primary lever for waste reduction, paired with responsible recycling at end of life. Restoration sits at the center of that model.

Why the math tilts toward restoration in a high-cost environment

Lead times for new interiors remain long, and inflation has raised replacement costs across leather, foams, and engineered plastics. Airlines and lessors still need cabins that sell tickets today. That pressure is shifting more work toward refurbishment, even among seat OEMs and teardown specialists who now offer upgrade kits and overhaul packages next to new builds.

Color Glo’s model lines up with the moment: mobile teams, water-based chemistry, and FAA/EASA-compliant processes engineered for in-service assets. For operators, that means fewer capital surprises, predictable turnarounds, and cabins that hold their value.

• Fast economics: lower material spend, shorter downtime, and fewer logistics touches.

• Regulatory clarity: documented processes that protect burn certs and resale value.

• Sustainability gains: reuse over replacement with low-VOC, non-flammable coatings.

The Aerospace & Defense Review profile captures the essence: sustainable solutions paired with precision engineering deliver interiors that look new without starting from scratch. For flight departments, MRO planners, and airline product teams weighing renew vs replace, this is the practical path to better cabins now.

Contact Color Glo International

Ready to elevate your fleet with sustainable, precision-engineered restoration? Contact a Color Glo International specialist today to discover how our professional on-site aircraft restoration services can renew your interiors, extend asset life, and deliver exceptional value. Transform your aircraft with the industry leader in plastic, leather, and fabric repair—reach out now to schedule a consultation and experience the Color Glo difference.

Color Restoration and So Much More

Color restoration and more

Color Glo International is the world leader in restoration and repair of leather, vinyl, velour, cloth and hard plastics commonly found in the markets of automotive, aircraft, marine and furniture.  Formally incorporated in 1975 Color Glo began franchising in 1982. Today we can be found in hundreds of markets throughout world. Color Glo products are proven everyday to offer the correct results and best value every time they are put to the test.

We initially began our franchising in the United States and have since then expanded into Canada and over 50 countries worldwide. Our focus is restoring and repairing common defects such as worn and faded interior components such as leather upholstery, headliners, burns and broken plastic or composite molding. These problems are found in the interior of every automobile, RV, truck sports vehicle, plane or boat in use today. You can learn a bit more about How RV Owners and Dealers Benefit From Color Glo.

A Little Bit of History

Since it’s beginning in 1975, Color Glo has become the recognized leader in the mobile automotive reconditioning industry. Founded by Everett C. Smith to address the growing demands, Color Glo has from the very beginning been the benchmark of this industry. Having been in the reconditioning industry for years, Mr. Smith knew that the existing products were not of the quality he would need to build a strong and successful brand. Although it was very costly and challenging, he decided that for his company, the only direction that would satisfy his pursuit of perfection and quality was to formulate his own line of exclusive and proprietary products.

Color Glo opened their own research and development labs to formulate the best products in this industry. He hired chemists that had strong backgrounds in new product formulation and research, and over a period of several years is team developed the original Color Glo proprietary line of restoration and repair products. Today the original 8 products in the line have grown to over 100 different and unique products. Each of the over 100 products are developed and selected to work seamlessly within the Color Glo system.

What We Do

This table gives you an overview of the materials we fix, where they’re found and the specific problems we can repair, restore or re-dye. We can find a solution for any problems that arise where these materials are found.

Color Glo Specialists

Our Color Glo franchises are located around the globe.  In the US our 75+ franchises are all mobile units. They come to you! Color Glo's mobile-based technicians will come to your home, office or other location to repair damaged plastic, vinyl, leather, fabric and upholstery. Worn, torn, stained, burned, scratched or otherwise damaged materials can be restored to like new for just a fraction of the cost of replacement.

We are located internationally in over 50 countries. These are location-based shops, set up to provide complete and professional repair and restoration services.

You can find all our CGI International franchises on our website location finder under “Locations”.

Renewable Resources

A very relevant attribute to Color Glo is our commitment to the environment and our commitment to be a green company. Color Glo’s process uses specially formulated proprietary water based and environmentally friendly, non flammable, odor free products.

Our environment is a growing concern and special factors are often taken into consideration when a potential customer is choosing a company for repair and/or restoration. This is where Color Glo comes in. Special attention given now to these considerations can be used to our advantage highlighting the continued implementation and research Color Glo International Environmental impact of products (subject to strict quality controls according to ASTM standards) that led to the creation of color-based eco-friendly, water based, odorless and nontoxic products.

Our environmental policy is based on the belief that no one operates in isolation. Everyone shares the same earth, and everything we do matters to those around us. At Color Glo International, we put people first. The health, safety, and welfare of our customers, employees, and the people of the communities we serve are paramount. That is why we take our commitment to environmental stewardship seriously and have developed specific principles to guide us in our work. At Color Glo, we will ensure that our employees & franchisees have the training, skills and knowledge necessary to adhere to these principles.

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Color Restoration and So Much More

Color Glo international and Color Glo franchisees world-wide are specialists in color restoration and repair of vinyl surfaces, accessories and furniture. Color Glo specialists are available to help restore your valuable property. We offer an on-site service, safety and convenience, eliminating the downtime of transport and ensuring our best work. Our work is permanent and environmentally safe. Color Glo specialists use non-flammable, odorless, water-based products that dry quickly.

Keep your investment for years to come. Revitalize. Restore. Save money. Contact us today for more information.

Could Your Aircraft Benefit From Color Restoration?

Should I restore my airplane?

There are so many questions to get answered. Let’s be clear, our portion of the conversation comes in after you’ve made your decision to mechanically restore or purchase a used aircraft that is in good mechanical order. Obviously when getting through this first step, there are so many things to consider like what type of airplane do you have or are considering buying? Is it flying or is it damaged?

Next, in terms of the interior and exterior, does it need to be replaced or restored? In most cases, things can be restored which is where Color Glo specialists come in. We can save you thousands simply by using what is already there.

The restoration process

The restoration process on an aircraft can be rather elaborate. When dealing with companies that restore used airplanes for people that want them overhauled, it typically includes parts and replacements, upgrades and more. What we’re talking about here is reducing your cost to restore to new. What can Color Glo restore?

• Cracked dashboards

• Vinyl

• Plastic

• Leather tears, marks and worn spots

• Light encasements

• Door panels

• Steering wheels

• Carpet

• Counsels

• Cushions and seats

Restored aircraft armchair and rest

Our Speciality. Color Glo, together with Aero Interior Maintenance, offers services that are targeted at leather, vinyl, and plastic surfaces used for interior components of aircraft. These components would include aircraft seating, side panels and reveals, headliners, seat bases, window reveals, table tops, and drink rails. The industry uses many different types of plastics, vinyls, and leathers to accomplish both practical and maintainable surfaces but also to bring elegance to these interiors.

• Cleaning and conditioning – Would include basic cleaning of built up soiling, newsprint ink or ink stains, removing simple scuffs, applying a final coat of leather conditioner.

• Repairing worn areas – Many high wear areas such as seat armrests and upper back cushions have the actual coating wore thin or all the way through the actual finish coating thus exposing the actual leather to premature wear and leaving it unprotected from the elements. Cleaning, repairing surfaces, and re-dying with multiple coats of finish will bring these areas back to a like new condition.

• Repairing & Re-dying of damaged areas – Many times faded colors, damaged surfaces from scuffs, scratches, and cracking can be repaired to a like new condition. This would include leather, vinyl, and hard plastics. These areas are then re-dyed back to an original color.

Color Glo Specialists work on-site to save you time and money. We come to you.

As you know, airplane and helicopter purchases can be very expensive so saving on the high-traffic areas is a feather in your cap. It leaves a bit more for the fun stuff and upgrades! A common question that people ask is “How long will it last?” It is simple to make something look good going out the door but the real value to the end user is often found months later after these surfaces have been used and cleaned by the customer. We cannot control how you clean or maintain these surfaces after they leave our hands but we feel confident that it will wear well and often times as well as the original finish. Our guarantee is that we will make you satisfied or your money back, no questions asked.

We have not experienced cracking, peeling, tackiness, the product coming off onto clothing, and the many other problems that many products cause. We take great pride in the fact our products stand the test of time again and again. We have a long list of customers who continually ask us to perform our maintenance on every annual inspection of their aircraft. They have found that routine maintenance can keep the appearance and condition of these interiors in a like new condition even though they may have thousands of hours of actual use.

Quality in Craftsmanship

Many companies have tested their products to prove that they will not alter existing burn certificates but what they haven’t done is create an FAA repair station that controls who uses these products, how they use them, and how they will qualify their work. This is called a quality control system. Using an FAA certificated system will assure that trained people are using these products, these products are traced from point of origin to point of use, and a quality control system is used to issue FAA approved paperwork to the aircraft owner returning the aircraft to service after the maintenance we provide is completed. Color Glo in correlation with AIM, use either FAA form #8130-3 or logbook entry forms at the customer requests. Rest assured that existing burn certifications will not be voided when AIM maintains your interiors.

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Need help with aircraft restoration?

From private aircraft to commercial airliners, government or military, Color Glo is a market leader in the repair, reconditioning, renewal and color restoration of leather, plastic and vinyl in the aviation market.

Aviation Restoration and Repair

Airplane and helicopter interior repair

Aircraft purchases can be an enormous expense even for the affluent. So replacing worn items inside of your airplane or helicopter investment is the last thing you want to do. Like vintage automobiles, antique furniture, office furniture and even medical chairs and seating, your aviation equipment's interior can be restored to new with Color Glo. 

There are things you should consider when sourcing companies that restore aircraft interiors, so read below how our process and history ensures success in this marketplace. 

Our Speciality. Color Glo, together with Aero Interior Maintenance, offers services that are targeted at leather, vinyl, and plastic surfaces used for interior components of aircraft. These components would include aircraft seating, side panels and reveals, headliners, seat bases, window reveals, table tops, and drink rails. The industry uses many different types of plastics, vinyls, and leathers to accomplish both practical and maintainable surfaces but also to bring elegance to these interiors.

• Cleaning and conditioning – Would include basic cleaning of built up soiling, newsprint ink or ink stains, removing simple scuffs, applying a final coat of leather conditioner.
• Repairing worn areas – Many high wear areas such as seat armrests and upper back cushions have the actual coating wore thin or all the way through the actual finish coating thus exposing the actual leather to premature wear and leaving it unprotected from the elements. Cleaning, repairing surfaces, and re-dying with multiple coats of finish will bring these areas back to a like new condition.
• Repairing & Re-dying of damaged areas – Many times faded colors, damaged surfaces from scuffs, scratches, and cracking can be repaired to a like new condition. This would include leather, vinyl, and hard plastics. These areas are then re-dyed back to an original color.

“Our Speciality. Color Glo, together with Aero Interior Maintenance, offers services that are targeted at leather, vinyl, and plastic surfaces used for interior components of aircraft.”

 

Quality Control

Many companies have tested their products to prove that they will not alter existing burn certificates but what they haven’t done is create an FAA repair station that controls who uses these products, how they use them, and how they will qualify their work. This is called a quality control system. Using an FAA certificated system will assure that trained people are using these products, these products are traced from point of origin to point of use, and a quality control system is used to issue FAA approved paperwork to the aircraft owner returning the aircraft to service after the maintenance we provide is completed. Color Glo in correlation with AIM, use either FAA form #8130-3 or logbook entry forms at the customer requests. Rest assured that existing burn certifications will not be voided when AIM maintains your interiors.

Our Guarantee

A common question is “How long will it last?” It is simple to make something look good going out the door but the real value to the end user is often found months later after these surfaces have been used and cleaned by the customer. We cannot control how you clean or maintain these surfaces after they leave our hands but we feel confident that it will wear well and often times as well as the original finish. Our guarantee is that we will make you satisfied or your money back, no questions asked. We have not experienced cracking, peeling, tackiness, the product coming off onto clothing, and the many other problems that many products cause. We take great pride in the fact our products stand the test of time again and again. We have a long list of customers who continually ask us to perform our maintenance on every annual inspection of their aircraft. They have found that routine maintenance can keep the appearance and condition of these interiors in a like new condition even though they may have thousands of hours of actual use.

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Need help with aircraft restoration?

From private aircraft to commercial airliners, government or military, Color Glo is a market leader in the repair, reconditioning, renewal and color restoration of leather, plastic and vinyl in the aviation market.