How do you handle FOD?

[Jay Honeck]

So how do you handle FOD at your airport?

We have recently bought a multi plane hangar, at a forward- looking airport that is continuously expanding. While this is refreshing, it means lots of trucks, which means lots of stones, mud, etc.

The airport has made no visible attempt to clean this up. This is not unusual -- I've never yet been based at an airport that took FOD seriously -- and with the ramp torn up, hangars under construction, and the runway being resurfaced, I'm not sure if anything would help.

Today I spent a few hours blowing the football-field-sized ramp area in front of our hangar clear, and, as the pic show, I removed a truckload of FOD. I've done this at our last three airports, and it helps -- but it would be good to know what others are doing!

What does your airport do?

 

[James331]

Bury it under snow.


I used to sweep and leaf blow in front of my hangar and do rolling run ups. With the amphib I'm high enough up that I don't think it's really a issue, as long as I don't get one in the tire or something.

 

[Brad Z]

Part of their construction safety phasing plan should include FOD removal from any aircraft movement areas (runways, taxiways, taxilanes, etc.) this should be part of the construction contract.

 

[Jay Honeck]

Maybe it is, but I'm not sure how I would know, or even who to ask.

We are new to this hangar owning thing.

My guess is that we are hosed during construction, but I haven't seen any indication that they're using (for example) a rotary brush truck to clean up. It's just a mess, for now.

Although, honestly, one of the worst FOD problems I've ever seen was CAUSED by a rotary brush truck that shed hundreds (thousands?) of curly cue metal bristles during an attempt to sweep the ramp in Port Aransas. It was a mess that took lots of people to clean up, by hand, but that effort did not prevent one guy from having a curly cue imprint on his propellor.

 

[Arrow115]

Its a serious issue where I am based. They have a sweeper truck but they dont ever use it. I know a king air operator that wont start up at his hangar, he tows it to the closet parking available by the runway. I am probably going to have to buy a new prop this year so its an issue that is on my mind quite frequently.

I try to sweep the area in front of my prop before start up and I taxi with the yoke back to try to minimize what I pick up. Better than not doing anything I guess.

I do hear that up the road at KCXO, they run their sweeper trucks pretty regularly and surprise surprise, no one complains about FOD.

 

[Archammer]

This is from a very limited knowledge about airport management, but I think almost all, or all public use airports are owned by the city or municipality - even if they are managed by a private company.

If it's not already part of the city sanitation laws - being that it is gov't property - I wonder if you could informally petition Public Works to make that part of their city street cleaning.

 

[steingar]

Never been that particularly worried about it flying piston aircraft. I can only imagine the level of FOD on a turf strip out in the country.

 

[Arrow115]

Never been that particularly worried about it flying piston aircraft. I can only imagine the level of FOD on a turf strip out in the country.

I would be less worried about it on a turf strip as well. The little rocks from deteriorating asphalt and road debris leave nice little dents in your prop.

 

[steingar]

I would be less worried about it on a turf strip as well. The little rocks from deteriorating asphalt and road debris leave nice little dents in your prop.

Plenty of little rocks, clods of dirt, old bricks, pieces of wood and all kinds of stuff in turf strips. The only reason you don't worry about it is you don't see it.

I've been operating off a deteriorating asphalt strip for a decade who's only FOD removal is done by snowplow. Never had a problem, and I have far better things to worry about.

Of course, things may be quite different in Texas. They often are.

 

[Stewartb]

I hate pavement and do my very best to avoid it. In 20 years my plane's seen pavement about 10 times. Otherwise it lives happily on gravel, sand, and mud. Believe it or not, a lot of airplanes are meant to be used outdoors. :wink2:

 

[AuntPeggy]

This is from a very limited knowledge about airport management, but I think almost all, or all public use airports are owned by the city or municipality - even if they are managed by a private company.

If it's not already part of the city sanitation laws - being that it is gov't property - I wonder if you could informally petition Public Works to make that part of their city street cleaning.

Public use airports may be either government owned or privately owned.
http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/passenger_allcargo_stats/categories/

 

[Arrow115]

Plenty of little rocks, clods of dirt, old bricks, pieces of wood and all kinds of stuff in turf strips. The only reason you don't worry about it is you don't see it.

I've been operating off a deteriorating asphalt strip for a decade who's only FOD removal is done by snowplow. Never had a problem, and I have far better things to worry about.

Of course, things may be quite different in Texas. They often are.

I am sure FOD can be an issue anywhere.

 

[Jay Honeck]

I am sure FOD can be an issue anywhere.

FOD is an expensive (and potentially dangerous) issue everywhere. I look at my prop and paint, and just shake my head.

I have seen/heard a prop sling a stone into a metal hangar over 100' away. If that was your car windshield -- or your face -- I think FOD would suddenly be pretty important.

One thing an old A&P told me, long ago: Keep your RPMS as low as possible when taxiing, under 1000 RPM for sure, to minimize FOD damage. This has saved my prop, but my wheel pants still take a beating.

I was hoping someone would chime in about an airport that treats this issue seriously. It seems like a great application for one of those big industrial vacuums.

 

[colojo]

I was hoping someone would chime in about an airport that treats this issue seriously. It seems like a great application for one of those big industrial vacuums.

I know my home field, Denver Centennial, takes it seriously. But when you average over 800 ops per day, much of which is business jets and turboprops, I guess you have to. In fact, in the airport office they have a box containing their "FOD Hall of Shame;" i.e., the more interesting things they've found on the field.

As much time as I've spent there I've never seen any sweeping machines or industrial vacuums, so I'm not sure how exactly they keep things clean.

 

[MAKG1]

I was hoping someone would chime in about an airport that treats this issue seriously. It seems like a great application for one of those big industrial vacuums.

Well, the County certainly never did at PAO. The number of potholes got ridiculous.

The City took it over a few months ago and has been chip sealing several areas. Maybe. Just maybe. They seem to be taking the "airport" thing considerably more seriously.

Honestly, though, the worst FOD problem we have comes from bouncy white dimpled projectiles. The city has cleared out the tiedown row closest to the golf course.

 

[N801BH]

Well, the County certainly never did at PAO. The number of potholes got ridiculous.

The City took it over a few months ago and has been chip sealing several areas. Maybe. Just maybe. They seem to be taking the "airport" thing considerably more seriously.

Honestly, though, the worst FOD problem we have comes from bouncy white dimpled projectiles. The city has cleared out the tiedown row closest to the golf course.

Chip sealing............ in an aircraft movement area????

You are kiddin, right ......

 

[MAKG1]

Chip sealing............ in an aircraft movement area????

You are kiddin, right ......

No. It's in several parking areas, not a movement area.

And I don't know what kind of paving it is. Just fresh pretty black asphalt surface. I'm definitely not a paving contractor, but it's very obvious there has been some work going on, short of a full repave.

 

[N801BH]

No. It's in several parking areas, not a movement area.

And I don't know what kind of paving it is. Just fresh pretty black asphalt surface. I'm definitely not a paving contractor, but it's very obvious there has been some work going on, short of a full repave.

That is good to hear...

 

[Graueradler]

We have a PTO driven 3 point hitch blower that does a very good job of moving loose gravel. It tales 6 passes to do the runway, 4 to do the taxiway. We had a seal coat put on the runway in 2013 which greatly limits the amount of material coming loose from the asphalt.

 

[BillTIZ]

Local airport did the equivalent of a chip and seal in the "non movement area" without any advance warning. Local pilots and transients immediately started complaining about nicks on the props. One of their own ramp personnel was "stung" by a few fine stones hitting bare skin when an airplane he was behind started with a roar. (Too much throttle). He filed an injury complaint with sand in the eye.

They spent the next 6 months continuously running their vacuum sweeper every place they had sealed.

 

[N801BH]

Maybe it is, but I'm not sure how I would know, or even who to ask.

We are new to this hangar owning thing.

My guess is that we are hosed during construction, but I haven't seen any indication that they're using (for example) a rotary brush truck to clean up. It's just a mess, for now.

Although, honestly, one of the worst FOD problems I've ever seen was CAUSED by a rotary brush truck that shed hundreds (thousands?) of curly cue metal bristles during an attempt to sweep the ramp in Port Aransas. It was a mess that took lots of people to clean up, by hand, but that effort did not prevent one guy from having a curly cue imprint on his propellor.

Same thing happens here in Jackson Hole... We get ALOT of commercial airliners and the guy who is the CEO of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ( A major ski area) is on the board.... The airlines need MU numbers over 30,, in fact we have alot of RJ's and since they have small rudders they need higher MU numbers in case a motor pukes just before V-1 VR... Maybe 35 MU's ????..

So, the cheap basterds on the airport board bought reconditioned brooms for their brushes... problem is the bristles were NOT properly clamped into the brush assembly and those " curly cue METAL bristles were thrown EVERYWHERE.......... Or course they didn't say a *ucking thing to anyone about their "issue"

Back when it started, I got a flat left tire.. During the repair I saw what looked like a piece of safety wire and figured it was a one in a million chance of picking one up..

So,,, I pulled out the curly cue thingie, bought a new tube and reinstalled the tire.... A week later ANOTHER flat... WTF.... Same curly cue thingie.. Another new tube as I thought it was more safety wire....

Then a third flat..... And then a fourth... my fifth one was the nose tire and when I landed the tire shook so bad it actually ripped my front gear strut apart.. I gave them a bill and they just threw it in the trash...






About that time, the CAP plane had a flat, then the lady next to me had on in her 206, then the local trainer... At one time we actually had planes with flat tires on the runway that closed the field.. I mentioned my concern to my buddy, the operator of the FBO here and he kinda blew me off.... The next week his son , who had just got his license... got a nose wheel flat and was stuck on the active runway... TWICE...

The airport board then bought a high dollar magnet to drag behind one of their maintenance trucks to try and recover the defective bristles / brooms /brushes.. To this day they will NOT admit they screwed up and I always wonder how many planes came through here, picked up that FOD, and landed 5-7 hours later wherever they were headed with a flat tire and have NO idea how it happened... In my opinion the airport board and manager should have at least notified the FAA of the potential deadly problem.....

 

[Jay Honeck]

Chip sealing............ in an aircraft movement area????

You are kiddin, right ......

Funny you bring that up. One of the (many) foolish acts that has earned Mustang Beach Airport (KRAS) the nickname "the Drunk Monkey Airport" was when they chip sealed the entire ramp and taxiway.

Obviously there was no input from any pilots when they bid THAT job! The "chips" started coming out of the "seal" almost immediately.

They recently seal coated the taxiway in an attempt to stop the complaints, but the ramp continutes to come apart. When you come visit, remember to keep RPMs as low as possible.

 

[N801BH]

Funny you bring that up. One of the (many) foolish acts that has earned Mustang Beach Airport (KRAS) the nickname "the Drunk Monkey Airport" was when they chip sealed the entire ramp and taxiway.

Obviously there was no input from any pilots when they bid THAT job! The "chips" started coming out of the "seal" almost immediately.

They recently seal coated the taxiway in an attempt to stop the complaints, but the ramp continutes to come apart. When you come visit, remember to keep RPMs as low as possible.

Ha.....
When I come to visit I will just land in the parking lot at Amelias Landing.. Just move 2-3 cars out of the way for me would ya??


Ps.. is there tie down rings in front of the room??

http://www.ameliaslanding.com/barnstormers_room.htm

 

[Jay Honeck]

Ha.....
When I come to visit I will just land in the parking lot at Amelias Landing.. Just move 2-3 cars out of the way for me would ya??


Ps.. is there tie down rings in front of the room??

http://www.ameliaslanding.com/barnstormers_room.htm

I'd be willing to facilitate that, but I can't answer for the gendarmes...

 

[Aeric]

Well, the County certainly never did at PAO. The number of potholes got ridiculous.

The City took it over a few months ago and has been chip sealing several areas. Maybe. Just maybe. They seem to be taking the "airport" thing considerably more seriously.

Honestly, though, the worst FOD problem we have comes from bouncy white dimpled projectiles. The city has cleared out the tiedown row closest to the golf course.

Taxiing at PAO is always an adventure...