Fresh Approaches to Runway Safety

The Federal Aviation Administration is studying the possible application of three off-the-shelf technologies to airside safety — heated pavements, rumble strips and remote sensing. (Click here for mobile friendly version.)

Image Source: FAA

Auxiliary Power Unites Vulnerable to FOD

Until recently APU’s, which start main engines and power avionics and other on-board equipment, have been neglected child of aircraft systems.

Image Credit: SrA Olivia Bumpers, USAF

Transpacific Flight vs Paper Clipboard

The ground crew knew that it was sitting on the engine, but nobody told the flight crew. Until the plane was already in the air, that is. This time they were lucky.

Image Credit: Pixabay

FOD Crashes Marine Corps Jet

Learn how a 5/16th-inch double hexagon bolt caused a catastrophic engine failure to an AV-8B Harrier jet, the pilot’s response, and the final determination by investigators.

Clean Factories

The best time to plan for periodic cleaning of your equipment is at the beginning — when you first design your manufacturing floor.

Image source: Bigstock

Bird or FOD?

India’s Pune International Airport is disputing Air India’s claim that a bird struck of the latter’s airliners, claiming that evidence indicates runway FOD instead.

Image source: Bigstock

Making Debris Profitable

A challenging effort is underway in India to recycle construction and demolition debris into a cost-effective alternative to conventional building materials.

Image source: Pixabay

No, It Doesn’t Help!

Hoping to receive good luck before her flight from Pudong Airport in Shanghai, an elderly passenger attempted to toss nine coins into one of the jet’s engines.

Image credit: China People’s Daily

European Union: Airlines Exempt From Bird Strike Liability

In a ruling seen as favorable to air carriers, the Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that bird strikes are “extraordinary events” beyond their control.

Image credit: Bigstock

New FOD Prevention Standard

Need guidance for your facility’s FOD program? The Americas Aerospace Quality Standards Committee (AAQSC) has a new standard, AS 9146, which defines program requirements for organizations that supply aviation, space and defense products and services.

Image credit: Bigstock

Controlling FOD During Air Strikes

The US Air Force is studying ways to harden its overseas air bases against attack by “missile swarms” that can scatter debris across runways and ramps, rendering them inoperable.

Image: SMSgt Keith Reed, US Air Force

Is FOD Threatening the US Missile Defense System?

When a test flight went awry, foreign object debris in the thruster’s internal guidance modules was blamed. Now a controversy has arisen over whether or not it will happen again.

Image: US Army

How NOT to De-ice an Aircraft

Passengers aboard a Turkish Airlines jet parked at Sanliurfa Airport couldn’t believe their eyes when a pair of enterprising workers began pouring liquid over an icy wing from a large plastic water bottle — then dropped the bottle.

Image: Twitter (Jan 10) / @U_G_U_R_P.

FOD Impacts Mars Rover

Suspected debris inside of the spacecraft Curiosity’s rock drill motor is causing intermittent stalling of the device.

Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS