Metallic paint and composite antenna signal strength

On larger aircraft, there are very few antennas the manufacturer will
let you paint. You can get by with metalics on some such as the
comms, but not any of the L-band, TCAS, or other high frequency ones.
As a rule though, we won't cover the antenna manufacturer's paint with
anything else.

I recently had a new Gulfstream that the tail radome that covers the
satcom, Direct TV, and high-speed data antennas that had to be changed
because the paint was too thick and attenuated the TV and data
signals. The satcom worked fine.

Experience has shown me that with other than small metallic stripes on
the nose radome, they won't pass a transmissivity test on the range
and have to be stripped and re-painted. The white urethane base coats
don't cause a problem there.