How bad does pigeon/bird droppings corrode aluminum skinned aircraft?

[azblackbird]

Is the corrosion from years of pigeon/bird droppings normally bad enough that it warrants total skin replacement, or have you found it is usually a non-issue and will buff right out?

 

[murphey]

Clean off a section and get the A&Ps opinion. Or it could be bad enough that just looking at it will be obvious.

 

[GlennAB1]

Had a Dowty prop for a G-1 get serious corrosion in a very short time, while in storge. One dime sized spot, of bird, on one blade. Prop went back out for overhaul. That crap is very corrosive.

 

[citizen5000]

Bird droppings quickly turn to salt and ammonia and contain uric acid; add water (from humidity or condensation) and you get electrochemical reactions that speed up corrosion and rusting process.

 

[azblackbird]

Bird droppings quickly turn to salt and ammonia and contain uric acid; add water (from humidity or condensation) and you get electrochemical reactions that speed up corrosion and rusting process.

We used to store all of our farm/ranch machinery in a huge enclosed barn. Pigeons/birds would crap all over it during the winter. Come spring we'd pressure wash all the droppings and dust off and put it into service. Most damage I ever remember seeing is the paint was a little faded in some of the heavy spots where it really piled up. Hopefully most of the aircraft I would plan on viewing would have similar damage.

 

[sferguson524]

We used to store all of our farm/ranch machinery in a huge enclosed barn. Pigeons/birds would crap all over it during the winter. Come spring we'd pressure wash all the droppings and dust off and put it into service. Most damage I ever remember seeing is the paint was a little faded in some of the heavy spots where it really piled up. Hopefully most of the aircraft I would plan on viewing would have similar damage.

I would assume that's the difference between painted steel and painted aluminum. I know on my sailboat, a bird whoops on the mast or one of the spreaders was somewhat not so nice

 

[bluerooster]

Just have a look at the bed of my pickup. It had been used to haul "fertilizer" (AKA chicken poop). If it weren't for the bed liner that I installed later, anything put in the bed, would fall straight through to the ground.