TORONTO — Airplanes have been painted white for so long that we often forget that they don’t start off that way. Similar to how we’ve come to accept that the sky is blue, we’ve simply never questioned why planes are white. They just are.

But the white colour scheme actually makes a lot of sense for various reasons, reports The Telegraph. For one thing, it saves airlines a ton of money, as paint typically adds up to 1,200 lbs of extra weight. And as airlines are always quick to point out, added weight results in more fuel burned, which in turn means higher operational costs.

Plus, due to the size of planes, it requires a lot of paint (approximately 120 gallons) to coat just one. How much does 120 gallons of paint cost, you ask? Anywhere from US$50,000 to $200,000!

Aside from costs, the main reason why planes are painted white and other light colours is to reflect sunlight and minimize damage from solar radiation. The features on a plane made of plastic, carbon fiber and fiberglass require the most protection from the heat of the sun, which is why these parts – like the nose cone – are usually always painted white.

Other good reasons to stick to white? It makes it easier to spot cracks, dents and other exterior damage, it helps to reduce bird strikes, and it also makes the plane more visible from the air should it experience a crash landing.