Can you afford to risk buying a cheap aviation sunshade?
The primary reason some sunshades are substantially cheaper than others is that they use less steel. Their product and engineering are more oriented towards cost savings than durability. So, while you might save a bit up front, it could really cost you.
Here are a few of the risks you’ll be running:
In the case of extreme weather, a cheaper sunshade is at much higher risk of failure - causing aircraft damage far exceeding any cost savings - and resulting in the need for a replacement sunshade. (The collapse of a sunshade at Nellis AFB in 2011 resulted in $7.4 million of damage to the F-16s and A-10s it was covering.)
Loss of aircraft due to damage caused by substandard sunshades puts readiness at risk. Critical aircraft can be out of commission for extended periods, piling up Non-Available Days and reducing operational capabilities.
Cheaper sunshade are likely to start to corroding prematurely (after as little as 6 months in some cases). This results in higher maintenance costs, reduced structural integrity, and the possible need for premature replacement.
Because it’s not made as well, a cheap sunshade will have a shorter lifespan. You might have to put up two cheap sunshades to last as long as one that’s higher quality, wiping out any initial savings.
A less durable sunshade puts personnel at risk. Eight people were injured in the Nellis AFB collapse mentioned above. Fortunately no one was seriously hurt, but is that something anyone would want to risk?
The risks and hidden costs associated with substandard aviation sunshades is what prompted Naval Facilities (NAVFAC) to conduct an exhaustive review and update the spec to a much higher standard.
High quality code-compliant sunshades reduce both your risk and your Total Ownership Cost.
In the case of aviation sunshades, what looks like a cheaper option may in fact be far more costly. A higher quality sunshade, engineered to meet, and even exceed, building code, withstand extreme weather, and protect assets and personnel not only lowers your risk, it lowers your costs.