Battling FOD On The Frontlines

Just as security checkpoints play a vital role in keeping air bases safe, "foreign objects and debris" checkpoints are important to helping win the war against foreign object damage.

FOD is anything that does not belong on the flightline. It could be as small as a pebble or as large as a steel pipe. Several "weapons" are used to help in the battle against FOD, with one of the most visible being the street sweeper often seen circling and zigzagging on the flightline of the Royal Air Force base in Lakenheath, England.

Airmen from the 48th Civil Engineer Squadron also walk the flightline, cleaning up and looking for debris.

"We clear all areas that aircraft may use," said Staff Sgt. Tony Conley, 48th CES. "We are checking the flightline all day long and sometimes into the early evening."

These Airmen have picked up just about every thing imaginable. "We find everything out here -- radios, headphones, nuts, bolts and even flightline badges," Sergeant Conley said.

The engines on the fighter aircraft are like vacuums that suck up everything. Even the smallest pebble could damage an aircraft’s engine, which could cost millions of dollars to repair, Sergeant Conley said.

"It’s everyone’s job to help prevent FOD on the active taxiways and runway," said Airman 1st Class Michael Haugen, 48th Operation Support Squadron.

Vehicles that drive on the taxiway aren't the only way FOD ends up on the flightline.

Taxiing aircraft cause material to scatter -- and of course, Mother Nature also adds to the problem.

"Whether it’s a rock, bolt, piece of safety wire or a tool, it takes only milliseconds to cause millions in damage and possibly losing an aircraft," said Master Sgt. Robert Lamb, 48th Fighter Wing FOD prevention manager. "In the global war on terrorism, foreign objects are more likely to bring down an aircraft than a terrorist. We can control the foreign object part of it."

"The F-15 (Eagle) is a high-powered fighting machine and its absolute worst enemy is foreign objects," Sergeant Lamb added.

(Aero-News salutes by Senior Airman Eric Donner, 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs)

FMI: www.af.mil