The Surface Treatment Plant at the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Station Palavi was opened by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana recently.
It marks a significant milestone in the enhancement of the SLAF’s engineering capabilities.
The Aircraft Overhaul Wing at SLAF Base Katunayake in 2015 was the undertaken to provide a timely solution for the comprehensive overhaul of Chinese origin aircraft.
The Surface Treatment Plant, constructed as a mandatory workshop for the Wing, plays a crucial role in facilitating the surface finishing of spares during the overhaul process of F-7BS/GS and K-8 aircraft.
The design of this workshop was executed by the expert team from China National Aero – Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC), while the construction and equipment installation were carried out under their supervision. The Surface Treatment Plant encompasses a wide range of surface finishing capabilities, adhering to aviation standards. These include various types of surface finishing methods such as Electroplating (including Chrome Plating, Copper Plating, Cadmium Plating, Nickel Plating, Bright Nickel Plating, Tin Plating, Zinc Plating, Silver Plating, Black Zinc Plating), Anodising (comprising Passivation of stainless steel, Chemical conductive anodising, Sulphuric acid Anodising, Chemical oxidation of aluminium and its alloy, Chrome acid Anodising, Hard Anodising) and Chemical Treatment (encompassing Phosphating, Bluing and Passivation of copper).The successful implementation of this state-of-the-art Surface Treatment Plant not only enhances the engineering capabilities of the SLAF but also supports as a valuable resource for allied services and external organisations. The facility can be extended to cater to the surface treatment needs of organisations such as the Ports Authority, SriLankan Airlines and other entities.