? ONE QUESTION By Christine A. DeJoy
MANY ANSWERS
How Do You Control FOD in Your Operation? A
S ANY OPERATOR KNOWS, FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE (FOD) CAN ENDANGER not only your helicopter and its components but, more importantly, the safety of your employees and customers as well. Tack on increased operating costs due to aircraft damage or potential incidents and accidents, and you have the makings of a true business liability.
To learn how our readers tackle FOD in their organizations, in August ROTOR conducted an anonymous survey through HAI’s ROTOR Daily newsletter and the association’s various social media channels. Many of the 42 rotorcraft professionals who responded mentioned four key measures they or their companies use to
control FOD: ■ Pick up and dispose of debris when you see it near, in, or around aircraft
■ Clean as you go rather than waiting until tasks are complete ■ Train all members of the organization, not just pilots and
maintenance techs, about the importance of continually watch- ing out for and eliminating FOD
■ Adopt—and follow—a tool and hardware accountability program. When asked what kinds of FOD they had seen, several readers mentioned plastic bags being ingested by engines or becoming
How often do you or a colleague conduct FOD walks/checks of your aircraft, landing site, or hangar?
21% 45% 17%
5% 5%
7%
Once a day As needed
A few times a week Once a week Never Other*
Note: Respondents were asked to choose only one answer.
* Responses included “before and after every flight,” “constantly throughout the day,” and “every six hours.”
18 ROTOR SEPTEMBER 2021 24% 19 19%% 19 19%%
caught in rotor blades; plywood being blown into ground-support vehicles or narrowly missing an aircraft; and pebbles or rocks damaging blades, engine cowlings, and windscreens. Other hazards cited included nuts and bolts, tin plates, work rags, and even a loose plastic fence that became a projectile! Yet despite this awareness among our respondents, many in
the vertical flight industry don’t always focus on FOD in their oper- ations. “Helicopter operators don’t always give FOD the attention they should, because they’re used to operating in a contaminated environment, such as agricultural fields, logging areas, parking lots, and so on,” says Zac Noble, HAI’s director of maintenance and technology.
What about your company? Does it make eliminating FOD part
of your safety culture? Read on to see what your peers are doing to tackle the problem in their organizations, and how their solutions may differ from your own.
What methods does your company use to train staff to deal with FOD?
57% 57%
40%
45% 45%
40% 24%
Regular or formal training sessions
Posters None Peer pressure Other*
Regular or formal training sessions
Assignment of tasks by a supervisor
Posters None Peer pressure Other*
Note: Respondents were able to choose as many answers as applied to their organizations.
* Responses included “operations manual that includes FOD hazards,” “shaming slobs and lazy pilots,” and “informal discussions.”
Assignment of tasks by a supervisor
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