The Threat of Foreign Object Damage in Aviation and Aerospace

What is Foreign Object Damage?

The threat of foreign object damage (FOD) is a big concern for aviation, because a small piece of debris can cause a major disruption. When an aircraft collides with a FOD, it can result in the loss of a large number of lives and significant economic damage.

The consequences are even more devastating when they involve passengers or crew. An engine failure in flight can cause loss of control and crash landings in airports or near populated areas where there are many people on the ground. A bird strike that destroys an engine would cause loss of control and crash landing at an airport or near populated areas where there are many people on the ground.

FODs also pose a threat to commercial airliners because they can cause serious damage during take-off and landing maneuvers; even minor defects can lead to catastrophic failures. In these situations, a foreign object damage prevention program can help protect against the various risks of foreign object damage in aviation.

The Consequences of Foreign Object Damage

In addition to the direct costs of repairing or replacing damaged aircraft parts, there are also indirect costs associated with FOD incidents. These include:

1. Impairment of flight operations: In some cases, FOD-related delays can lead to missed flights, cancelled flights or even no flights at all. These are usually due to maintenance requirements that need to be performed on part of the aircraft before it can resume flying again because of damaged caused from foreign objects;
2. Damage to aircraft and airport infrastructure: Broken windows on an aircraft or damaged tarmac can cause serious damage to an airport’s terminal building or runways;
3. Lost revenue for airlines: In addition to lost time for crew members and passengers, there may also be lost revenue if flights are cancelled due to FOD-related delays;
4. Costly litigation: Airlines will sometimes sue after their aircraft sustains damages from another airline’s negligence or a third party’s carelessness.

The best way to avoid these costs and liability is through the implementation of a FOD prevention program. A FOD prevention program is a set of procedures which are designed to ensure that foreign objects are not left on runways or in aircraft. Airport staff should be trained to identify, report, and remove any debris that could pose a safety hazard for both passengers and crew members.

What Are the Benefits of a Foreign Object Damage Prevention Program?

Foreign object damage prevention programs are one of the most effective ways to manage risk. In essence, these are tools and strategies designed to prevent foreign objects from entering an airport’s runways, taxiways, terminals and aircraft. They can help airlines recover from FOD-related incidents, which can cost millions of dollars in damages and lost revenue. A robust FOD prevention program not only helps prevent accidents but also improves the overall safety of airports.

An effective FOD program will:

• Reduce your exposure to liability;
• Improve customer service and satisfaction;
• Save time and money by reducing delays, repairs and litigation costs;
• Enhance safety by improving runway safety margins at airports;
• Improve aircraft performance and reduce maintenance costs.

The Takeaway

Despite the challenges, FOD is a problem that can be solved. However, this can only be done through a well-designed foreign object damage prevention program with the right tools, processes and people in place. An effective FOD prevention program will not only help prevent accidents but also improve the overall safety of airports.