Compliments of U.S. Air Force “Flying Safety” Magazine

SMSGT BARRY TROUBA
3rd Component Repair Squadron Elmendorf AFB, AK 

With a combined experience of over 60 years repairing and operationally testing jet engines, this was just another “regular” day for this experienced run team. The long Alaskan winter was almost over and spring was in the air. The team members busied themselves looking at the engine’s maintenance records to ensure everything was in order. The T56 turboprop engine had been removed for metal on the magnetic drain plug and had required a reduction gearbox change earlier in the week. After the gearbox assembly was replaced with a new unit from depot, the Jet Engine Intermediate Maintenance (JEIM) shop technicians performed a pre-Test Cell inspection and called Test Cell for the test run. After another careful inspection, Test Cell technicians towed the engine to the facility for loading, initial leak check and functional checks. [Read more…]

See how this major aerospace manufacturer trains its personnel to understand and control FOD.

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Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida develops long-term plans to improve Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard Prevention (BASH) procedures.

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Read this graduate thesis from Mr. Felice Procaccio of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, based on a survey of 231 aviation professionals.

Click here for the PDF File

As part of its continuing effort to improve Foreign Object Damage (FOD) prevention, The FOD Control Corporation has introduced a new safety tool into the military aviation market, the FOD and Fuel Caddy. [Read more…]

Compliments of U.S. Air Force “Flying Safety” Magazine

Aircraft maintenance personnel were tasked with troubleshooting a C-5 #3 engine generator discrepancy. Worker 1 performed the outside walkaround and the required intake/exhaust inspection of all four engines. During the #4 engine inspection he found a nut and washer missing from the fan stopper. The fan stopper is a wooden handle with a heavy rubber tip attached to sheet metal and secured by three screws. He finished the inspection of the #4 engine, then re-inspected the P3 engine to ensure it was clear of FOD. Finding none, he documented the inspections in the aircraft forms. Good work ethic, right? [Read more…]

An aerospace powerhouse shares details of its excellent FOD Program now in operation.

FOE Plan

FOD prevention assessment criteria

FOE implementation

Have a problem? A great idea? The International Center for Aviation and Wildlife Risk Mitigation has established several online forums for people who want to brainstorm ideas for wildlife management.

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Each year front line FOD Prevention managers and supervisors get together to share serious information, swap stories, view new products and hear presentations from peers, suppliers and innovators in the field.

If you don’t know, NAFPI, National Aerospace FOD Prevention, Inc., is a non-profit foundation dedicated to reducing FOD and improving safety in aviation. Learn more about NAFPI and download presentations at www.nafpi.com. [Read more…]

Compliments of U.S. Air Force “Flying Safety” Magazine

The jet was undergoing the final stages of its major periodic inspection.  It was on the trim pad for some engine- running op checks and three Maintainers – an engine run person, a ground person, and a specialist-type person – were responsible for seeing to it they were done. [Read more…]

Brussels Airport has released to European airport managers this nifty one-page safety alert on the importance of tool control.

Click here for the PDF

The following recent news articles and FAA Fact Sheet highlight the need for continuous improvement of wildlife FOD control.

3/11 USA TODAY: Experts: awareness of bird strikes needs improvement

3/16 USA TODAY: Federal watchdog to review FAA bird-strike measures

3/28 FAA FACT SHEET: The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Wildlife Hazard Mitigation Program

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University runs through recent high-profile bird strikes, the government’s plans to kill thousands of birds who live within several miles of New York City’s major airports, and otherwise keeps you updated on this controversial aspect of flight safety.

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Compliments of U.S. Air Force “Flying Safety” Magazine

You all have seen or heard of “The Right Stuff.”  How about The Right Part?  We have too many incidents where using the wrong hardware resulted in aircraft damage.  Never forget the few seconds you save will cost a whole lot more when you redo the work.  Isn’t “Excellence in all we do” one of our core values? [Read more…]

Read this concise FAA safety article directed toward GA pilots who may be in too much of a rush to think about safety before takeoff, including proper attire, foreign object damage prevention and – oh, yes – never rest your body against a propeller blade.

Click here for the PDF