It never fails: a photo or video shows up on Reddit or TikTok with someone performing maintenance on an airplane... with tape. The first impression isn't good for passengers, and they almost always assume it's the classic duct tape. But that's wrong. It's called Speed Tape, it's not duct tape, it was specially designed for the job, and most importantly: it reminds us that the public knows very little about airplanes.
It all started with a photo posted on Reddit early this year:
Yes, they are taping the wing of a plane about to take off. Comments like "the plane is going to fall apart in the air" didn't take long to appear, but the point is that on the surface, it gives the impression of a makeshift repair with duct tape. Luckily, the truth is different: First, it's not duct tape, and second, it's not used to 'hold' the plane together.
Speed Tape: Understanding Its Use
Its official name is 'Speed Tape' (also known as aviation tape), and it's based on an aluminum tape with an optimized adhesive designed to withstand high-speed situations, like a plane in full flight or certain race cars. The adhesive formula can vary, but generally it's resistant to water, solvents, heat, pressure changes, elasticity, ultraviolet light, and, for a limited time, flames. There are also important differences in design, with versions of soft aluminum, transparent Mylar tapes, or laminates of aluminum and cotton fabric.
The uses for Speed Tape are limited to minor repairs and stabilization operations, always under the condition of being 'temporary' and with the crew informed. In some cases, the goal is to protect a sealant application during its natural curing process, but sometimes a crack or a flaw appears in the plane's paint. The tape allows the plane to keep flying and reduces stress on the affected areas, until it can undergo its normal maintenance session.
That leads us to another fundamental aspect I already mentioned above: The tape doesn't 'hold' the plane together. The exterior we see is just its 'skin', and there's a whole structure underneath. Believe it or not, there are many parts and conditions that aren't critical for the plane to fly (usually identified in two lists, CDL - 'Configuration Deviation List' and MEL - 'Minimum Equipment List'). So, when we see someone applying tape, it's important not to panic.
To finish, another classic question: How much does Speed Tape cost? The only source I found mentions $100 per 60-yard roll (a little less than 55 meters), with a minimum order of 16 units.
