b'64 APAAIRFIELD Centennial Airport ImplementsDrive-Thru Method for FOD ControlBY MIKE SCHWANZRemoving foreign object debrisThe gravel haul road FACTS&FIGURES(FOD) from the airfield is a safety- often leads to debris Project: Foreign Object Debris Prevention critical task all airports mustbuildup on the tires of Location: Centennial Airport, in Englewood, CO complete on a regular basis. Earlier thisour vehicles, and over year, Centennial Airport (APA) just outsidetime, they accumulate Product: FODS (Foreign Object Debris System)Denver added a new strategy to its existingrocks, mud and other Prevention Mats program that is getting great reviews from thematerial, states APA Manufacturer: FODS LLC maintenance staff. Maintenance DirectorMATT SMITHSize: 12 ft. x 7 ft. For a total cost of $11,000, the generalMatt Smith. To prevent Configuration: 4 mats arranged to form 28-foot- aviation airport installed four FOD Preventionthis debris from reaching paved surfaces of long path Mats at the end of a gravel road thatthe airfield, the FOD mats were installed to How They Work: When a vehicle drives over theconnects two paved portions of the airfieldclean the tires before vehicles reenter areas nubby mats, debris falls out of its tire treads & fromused by heavy equipment and airportwhere aircraft operate.the undercarriageCost: $11,000 for 4 mats, plus special shovel tovehicles. The mats are designed to removePreviously, APA used a somewhat similar remove debris from mats stones, mud, metal and other debris fromunit built in its own maintenance shop. Our Installation: March 2024 the vehicles tires before they travel onto thestaff created a giant metal device, similar to airfield. If left unattended, such debris cana cattle grate, Smith explains. We hollowed Duration: 45 minutesbe ingested into aircraft engines and causeout a hole under this grate to collect larger Key Benefit: Reducing risk of foreign object debrisdangerous and costly damage.rocks from the tires. It was not very effective damage; labor savingsNovember | December 2024AirportImprovement.com'