An aircraft skin coating assembly for an aircraft. The coating assembly includes a primer layer deposited on the aircraft skin, an optical stop-etch layer deposited on the primer layer that is reflective at a predetermined wavelength, a coating stack-up deposited on the optical etch-stop layer that provides performance features for the aircraft, and a sealant layer deposited on the stack-up. When a laser coating removal process employing a laser beam is used to remove the coating stack-up for replacement, the stop-etch layer reflects the laser beam to prevent it from penetrating and possibly damaging the aircraft skin.