Foreign Object Debris Audit Checklist

FOD prevention plans at airports are vital in managing foreign object debris risk. This may include everything from airfield pavement fragments, catering supplies, building materials, rocks and sand as well as pieces of luggage to aircraft components.

FOD refers to any item which could potentially cause system or product failure due to degradation, malfunction, or damage. As such, an effective FOD inspection checklist is critical.

1. Identify the Area
An effective foreign object debris (FOD) plan should take into account both environmental and operational characteristics of any facility. A FOD plan should cover areas in which equipment, aircraft hardware or personal items are stored, inspected, repaired, assembled, tested or used and also include tools/hardware/consumables control measures.

An effective FOD prevention program requires regular inspection of all areas within an airport facility, including airfield, aircraft maneuvering areas and parking gates. Inspection should take place during daylight hours and at least once every shift; in case of serious FOD incidents it may be necessary to inspect outside of these hours as well.

Debris is generally divided into five general types, including nuts, bolts, washers, scrap metal and personal items. It is crucial to identify and record these items as soon as they are found so as to detect long-term trends and create preventive actions – this might involve training employees on 5S methodology that encourages organization through a series of steps called sort, set in order, shine standardize sustain.

2. Walk the Area
FOD refers to any object found on an air terminal’s asphalt surface which doesn’t belong there and could potentially damage an airplane while passing overhead. Ground faculty scan the area by strolling side-by-side and stopping periodically in search of items that have fallen onto airplane activities territory; any items discovered are collected for analysis so long-term trends or weaknesses can be addressed effectively.

Does the facility conduct regular bucket walks of open product/process areas?

3. Observe the Area
An effective FOD plan should encompass every area in a facility where hardware or vehicles are stored, assembled, repaired, tested, transported or parked; in addition to covering outdoor areas that could impact aircraft maneuvering areas (i.e. airfield buildings and ground support equipment [GSE]).

Inspection procedures at any facility should follow NAS 412, the Aerospace Industries Association’s baseline FOD prevention policy/procedure. FOD refers to any item not where it should be; examples include loose parts or tools, baggage items and rocks caused by weather conditions that is out of its proper place – this can damage aircrafts, manufactured products and compromise both quality control and liability risks for both operators and customers alike.

An organized bucket walk of open product/process areas should be conducted regularly to ensure they remain free of foreign matter. Many facilities also utilize 5S methods as part of an effort to foster an inculcation of housekeeping among workers, so they become used to practicing “clean as you go” during assembly operations.

4. Record the Area
Each facility must tailor its FOD plan based on the environmental and operational considerations specific to it, yet there are some universal processes.

An FOD finding should be documented and its cause identified; then appropriate corrective and preventive actions must be implemented to address them.

FOD Prevention Procedures at an airport must include daily, daylight inspections of all areas where hardware and vehicles are stored, assembled, disassembled, repaired, shipped out for service or placed into service – such as cargo aprons, runways/taxiways/airfield buildings as well as ground support equipment (GSE).

These inspections must be carried out by trained employees and must include: