Assam’s LGBIA Launches FOD Walk-Through Campaign to Promote Safety Awareness

Assam’s Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBIA) has initiated an important walk-through campaign aimed at raising awareness about the risks associated with Foreign Object Debris (FOD) and its impacts on aircraft operations.

LGBIA takes a proactive approach to aviation safety by launching a FOD walk-through campaign.

This important initiative aims to educate individuals about the potential risks associated with FOD and its implications for aircraft operations. FOD refers to any stray objects or debris that could pose a threat to flight safety during landing time. Recognizing the seriousness of this issue, LGBIA has engaged all stakeholders, including CISF, Air Traffic Control, Ground Handling Agencies, Fueling Agencies, and airport staff in Guwahati. The walk-through campaign focuses on comprehensive cleanup efforts throughout the airside, inspecting and removing debris from critical areas such as runways and aprons.

Promoting Safety Awareness

The LGBIA has taken the responsibility to educate and engage all stakeholders, including the CISF, Air Traffic Control, Ground Handling Agencies, Fueling Agencies, and airport staff in Guwahati. The campaign draws attention to the fact that even seemingly insignificant items like nut bolts, tissues, and other small objects can pose serious threats to passenger safety, crew well-being, and aircraft operations.

Thorough Inspection and Cleaning Efforts

To ensure a safe environment for aircraft operations, the FOD walk-through campaign involves meticulous inspections and the removal of debris from various areas on the airside. Trained personnel carry out comprehensive assessments, focusing on runways, aprons, and other critical areas of concern within the airport premises. The goal is to identify and remove any potential foreign objects that could jeopardize the safety of flights.

Collaboration for Enhanced Safety

LGBIA is committed to developing and implementing policies that reduce potential threats to air travel. It emphasizes the importance of the participation of all airport staff, airline staff, and other relevant authorities in the walk-through campaign. Additionally, passengers are urged to remain vigilant and report any FOD findings to the concerned department. By fostering collaboration among stakeholders, the campaign aims to create a safer and more secure aviation environment in Assam. For more details about FOD programs: Establishing a FOD prevention culture – FOD Control

The launch of the FOD walk-through campaign by Assam’s LGBIA is a commendable step towards enhancing safety in aviation operations. By proactively addressing the risks associated with Foreign Object Debris, LGBIA demonstrates its commitment to promoting safety awareness and creating a hazard-free airport environment. The thorough inspections and cleaning efforts, coupled with the collaboration of all stakeholders, contribute to a more secure aviation environment in Assam. Through this campaign, LGBIA sets an excellent example for other airports to prioritize safety and security. The commitment to education, engagement, and collaboration ensures that Assam’s aviation sector operates smoothly while prioritizing the safety and security of air travelers.

Original Article: Hub News

News Report: Airport Remains Open Despite FOD

January 24, 2016: The runway at Bauerfield International Airport (IATA: VLI, ICAO: NVVV) in the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu has deteriorated to the point that some airlines have halted flights, according to a report by Newshub. Airport authorities have commenced short-term solutions, such as daily sweeping, to collect debris formed from loose pieces of tarmac. Read more…

Bauerfield IAP. Image Copyright © Julie Lyn. Some rights reserved.

White Paper: Comparing Airport Sweeper Technologies

January 4, 2016: There is no “one size fits all” single best technology for sweeping foreign object debris (FOD) from broad airport surface areas such as runways, taxiways, ramps and aprons, in all circumstances. So, instead of looking for the best sweeper available, focus instead on acquiring the most appropriate solution for your specific FOD control program. Read more…

Image Copyright © The FOD Control Corporation. All rights reserved.

News Report: Dead Deer vs. Aircraft

February 1, 2016: Hunters kill deer for food. Deer remains wash ashore near Sitka Rock Gutierrez Airport (SIT). Birds flock to the airport to dine on the remains. You can imagine how this can affect runway safety, so airport officials need to be extra vigilant during subsistence hunting season in Alaska, according to this article by KTOO Public Media. (Warning: graphic images) Read more…

Sitka Airport. Image Copyright © James Brooks. Some rights reserved.

FOD Education: Tool Room Assessment Checklist

February 1, 2016: Tracking and inventorying tools in a FOD-sensitive environment can take away precious time from your core mission activities. Here’s a handy guide to help you speed up the process, get better organized and prevent lost items from damaging equipment and endangering lives. Read more…

Image Copyright © Unsplash. CC0 public domain license.

News Report: Automated Detection System

December 8, 2015: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) has installed a new FOD detection system for its recently-reconstructed center runway, according to a public statement by the Port of Seattle. Developed by the Israeli firm Xsight Systems, it utilizes image and radar processing algorithms to scan for debris and birds. Read more…

Image courtesy of Xsight Systems.

When does an airborne aircraft resemble FOD? When it’s smaller than practically everything else in the sky.

Drones — basically any unmanned, remotely-controlled aircraft — populate our nation’s airspace in greater and greater numbers. Depending upon design, they are also described by various acronyns, such as UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems), sUAS (small Unmanned Aircraft Systems) or mUA (micro Unmanned Aircraft).

Quadcopter. Image: U.S. Air Force.

Military and law enforcement agencies already use them extensively. Long banned for commercial purposes, the FAA has recently proposed a set of regulations that would allow the routine use small drones. So, it is only a matter of time before all manner of little machines start buzzing over your community, ranging in size from a small plane to a large insect.

It is the miniature drones that concern manned aircraft pilots and industry officials, because in size and behavior they often resemble a bird in flight. They can collide with manned aircraft before pilots have the opportunity to take evasive action. Their relatively fragile construction can cause FOD issues on the ground during a forced landing or airborne break-up.

The FAA receives approximately two dozen reports per month of either near misses between UAV’s and manned aircraft, or of UAV’s flying close to airports. In 2013 a four-foot-long unmanned helicopter came within 200 feet of a Boeing 777 during a landing approach at JFK International Airport. An analysis of possible consequences, had a collision occurred, includes many of the same results of a bird strike, such as a fodded-out engine or cockpit intrusion.

Of course, in most cases, a bird strike will more likely to bring down the bird instead of the aircraft. With small UAV’s, it’s just the opposite, as this video of a hawk attacking and crashing a quad-copter will attest. Now you have the potential for FOD debris on the ground.

So many UAV’s have taken to the skies so quickly, including private craft making low-altitude flights (which are not usually regulated by the FAA), that government officials struggle just to keep up with the pace of events. For instance, a local videographer caused a stir when his camera-mounted drone buzzed a suburb of Chicago one night to make a promotional video. Confusion abounded over whether or not he had created a safety hazard, invaded people’s privacy and followed FAA regulations.

RQ-16A T-Hawk. Image: U.S. Geological Survey.

A drone strike would also create a more complex knot of insurance and court cases. Unlike a FOD incident caused by a generic piece of debris (such as a small bolt) of unknown origin, or a bird strike where the perpetrator is a natural object, after a drone strike it would not be difficult to trace the ownership and manufacturer of the offending craft. You would know exactly who to sue or prosecute.

One way to unclog the traffic, at least during takeoff and landing operations, is to give drones their own dedicated airport. The U.S. Army is doing just that, building a launch and recovery complex specifically for its military UAV’s. Located at Fort Bliss, Texas, it will include two runways, taxiways, a hangar, aprons and maintenance assets.

Military aviation faces some of its greatest FOD challenges when deploying to forward locations with no airfields or improved surfaces. To help solve this problem, a British manufacturer of portable runways developed an aluminum UAV Landing Mat for the Australian Armed Forces.

A partnership between the FAA, the UAV industry and model aircraft enthusiasts has put up a website, Know Before You Fly, that encourages responsible behavior by private drone operators.