Zip-Chem Aircraft Degreasers: What Are They For, When to Use Them, and Why?

This article is part of Greenwood Aerospace’s Ultimate Guide to Zip Chem Corrosion Preventatives and Aviation Cleaners, a content series designed to help procurement officers, maintainers, and federal buyers understand compliant aviation cleaning products available through GSA Advantage.

Residual grease is not only an eyesore but, for aircraft components, an actual problem. See, grease not only looks terrible when smeared all over the skin or components of the aircraft, but it also collects and traps salt, debris, dirt, and, worst of all, moisture. Right there, you have most of the building blocks of corrosion, and that is a problem. 

From hydraulic fluid leaking and collecting grime, to carbon and engine buildup in engine bays, grime is everywhere on jet aircraft, and even more so on military aircraft that have ordnance hardpoints, and other additional fixtures that either produce grease and dirt, or attract it.

Zip-Chem CALLA 301A is the answer to your problems here: it is non-flammable, non-corrosive, and an EPA Safer Choice-approved degreaser designed for a wide range of soils and heavy-duty cleaning in aircraft maintenance and cleaning. Let’s take a look at this excellent cleaning and degreasing product that you need to stock up on now!  

Why Do You Need Degreasers?

Degreasers are among the usually unseen and unthought-of products that play a critical role in the overall health of the aircraft. Corrosion is the #1 enemy of a lengthy lifespan for all aircraft, so keeping your fleet clean is an utmost priority. 

Aircraft degreasers also have to be built to address the particular challenges of aviation, so your run-of-the-mill general-purpose cleaner just will not do. 

Aircraft cleaning has to be safe on all sorts of metals, plastics, and coatings across the aircraft, eliminating grease, oil, hydraulic fluid, and stubborn carbon buildups without damaging the parts and components on the equipment it is applied to, or being flammable. 

Zip Chem’s CALLA 301A has become a preferred solution thanks to its environmental credentials, versatility, and compatibility with a wide range of aircraft materials. Zip Chem’s CALLA 301A meets these challenges and works on multiple surfaces and in various industries – aircraft, autos, machines, food service equipment, and even cold-dip tanks used for part cleaning. That’s why it’s a heavy-duty cleaning solution for any maintenance program that demands results.

Zip Chem CALLA 301A: Environmentally Responsible and Performance Driven

Picking the right cleaners and degreasers is not flashy, but it is extremely important. Nobody watches an F-16 fly over and wonders which degreaser they use. But those products, along with hundreds of other lubricants, oils, cleaners, sealants, and spare parts, are what Greenwood Aerospace provides so you can see these aircraft flying over. 

CALLA 301A is a clear amber, heavy-duty degreaser and cleaner for aircraft maintenance, EPA Safer Choice approved. It’s for heavy-duty cleaning and degreasing, removing grease, hydraulic fluid, oil, dirt, and carbon from metal and painted surfaces. CALLA 301A boils at 212°F (100°C) and is non-flammable for hangar and field use. The cleaner has no phenols or harmful concentrations, making it safe for the user and material. When CALLA 301A dries completely, it leaves no residue or stain, even on delicate or polished surfaces.

Unlike other cleaners, CALLA 301A performs the same regardless of temperature and humidity variations. It’s non-corrosive and non-flammable for maintenance hangars and confined interior use. It dissolves soils that other cleaners can’t and is safe on sensitive materials, so you get clean surfaces ready for inspection or further treatment.


Ready to buy now? → View CALLA 301A (Pack of 10, 22 oz Aerosol Cans)

Safe and Versatile Across Aircraft Materials

Zip-Chem CALLA 301A is formulated for compatibility with aluminum, magnesium, copper, steel, titanium, and all structural metals. It is also safe to use with aircraft-grade paints, primers, acrylic plastics, vinyl plastics, and even wiring and electrical motor components.

Non-corrosive and non-flammable, CALLA 301A is safe for routine use in hangars or field environments. There is no need to get the aircraft out into the open air for use, which is really nice if you are cleaning a jet in Minnesota in the winter.

CALLA 301A does not injure acrylic paint or other coatings when used as directed, making it suitable for exterior and interior cleaning, so it is also a great cleaning option for interior surfaces, too, like galley areas, large interior surface areas, and even vinyl used for interior trim all over the cockpit and aircraft.

Key Advantages of CALLA 301A

CALLA 301A stands out for performance, safety, and environmental responsibility:

  • EPA Safer Choice approved: Safer chemistry and reduced environmental impact.
  • Non-flammable and non-corrosive: Hangar housekeeping, maintenance, and field use.
  • Residue-free: Dries completely with no film or stains on surfaces.
  • No irritating vapors or harmful concentrations: Confined spaces or interior cleaning.
  • Heavy-duty cleaning power: Removes hydraulic fluid, oil, grease, carbon, and other soils from aircraft components and equipment.
  • Multiple-material safe: Safe on metals, plastics, and paints, including acrylic and vinyl.
  • Industry proven: Meets Boeing and DoD requirements for cleaning performance and material safety.
    • Airbus CML 08ABC1
    • Airbus CML 08ACA1
    • AMS 1526C
    • AMS 1550B
    • Boeing CSD-1
    • Boeing D6-7127
    • Boeing D6-17487
    • Boeing BAC 5744 (Called Out In Process Document)
  • Cost-effective: Reduces maintenance time, waste, and the need for multiple cleaners.

Application and Best Practices

Zip-Chem CALLA 301A is designed for cleaning and degreasing in both light and heavy maintenance tasks. It can be found in every toolbox, in a spray bottle and a box of disposable shop towels, for small jobs like spot cleaning. However, at higher concentrations, it becomes a ferocious degreaser for aircraft wash cycles. It can even be used in cold-dip tanks as a non-toxic, non-flammable solvent for dipping components and parts. 

The standard dilution rate is 20:1, but for heavier soils and grease deposits, the following dilutions are suggested:

  • Stubborn Soils: Dilute Calla 301A at a concentration of 10:1
  • Heavily Soiled Areas: Dilute Calla 301A at a 4:1 ratio. Use a heavy-bristle scrub brush to loosen even the most stubborn soils, then rinse with clear water to remove the solution and grime. 
  • Store Calla 301A at 40°F-100°F (4°C–38°C) and keep the containers closed when not in use. Also, keep the material away from heat as it is water-based and boils at 212°F.

Final Thoughts on Zip-Chem Degreaser CALLA 301A

CALLA 301A is the best balance of environmentally responsible yet powerful cleaner. It is much less dangerous to users and less caustic to surfaces than other heavy chemicals, and is entirely safe for metals, coatings, and wiring. It provides efficient degreasing without harsh chemicals or residues.

With its EPA Safer Choice approval and broad compatibility, it is an excellent degreaser for aviation and aerospace platforms that are notoriously sensitive to chemicals and strong cleaners.

Order directly through Greenwood Aerospace on GSA Advantage for compliant, ready-to-ship aviation cleaning solutions, and contact us for expedited delivery requests, large-order inquiries, or to confirm product availability. You can email us at gsasales@greenwood.aero or call us at: 580-865-6000 or 833-GSA-EBUY (833-472-3289).

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