FOD prevention -- A full-time job at Ellsworth

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Abigail Klein
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Despite setting a record year in mitigating chargeable foreign object damage incidences, FOD representatives see no reason to slow down prevention efforts at Ellsworth.

Only one reportable FOD incident has occurred this fiscal year. (Reportable incidents are those which could have been prevented and cost more than $20,000 to repair.) Before this incident, Ellsworth went an astounding 521 days FOD free, said Tech. Sgt. Scott Harrington, 28th Bomb Wing FOD program manager.

Ellsworth members plan to continue normal prevention actions due to the continuous nature of FOD, the unpredictability of South Dakota winds and the difficulty of pinpointing its root causes.

FOD related incidents can degrade [Ellsworth's] response time and our number of mission capable aircraft, Sergeant Harrington said. If we have to wait for repairs on our aircraft or engines on something that could have been eliminated by simply picking up a rock, hardware or piece of trash, the affect is a [self-inflicted wound on the mission.]"

Sergeant Harrington sites educating Ellsworth members about FOD prevention as a key factor to records at Ellsworth.

"Education is the number one effort we have in reducing FOD; the more people know that anything they bring or allow onto the airfield has a potential to be debris and cause damage to our weapons systems, the better," Sergeant Harrington said. "It truly is every Airman's responsibility to prevent FOD, even those that don't directly work on or around the airfield."

Foreign object damage typically occurs when small pieces of aircraft hardware or other debris is ingested into an aircraft engine. Some common examples of debris include rocks, hardware, clothing items, line badges and tools; items that are a part of the everyday flight line environment

Daily FOD sweeps are accomplished by a FOD BOSS, which is a carpet with scoops attached pulled behind a vehicle to pick up debris. Along with the FOD BOSS the use of magnets, daily FOD walks, bi-annual wing FOD walks, aircrew compartment FOD checks, and FOD checks after completion of any airfield repairs have all been instituted as standard procedures to reduce chargeable incidents.

Other preventative measures at Ellsworth include frequent meetings of the Bird and Wildlife Strike Hazard Working Group chaired by Col. Steven Hiss, 28 BW vice commander. These meetings are held semi-annually, usually prior to the fall and spring seasons before the southern and northern migration period of geese, said Tech. Sgt. Jason Klukas, 28 BW BASH manager and flight safety NCO in charge.

"If a plane hits a bird or other wildlife it is technically considered FOD," he said. "The most prevalent animals involved in these incidents in recent history have been birds. The most common birds include sparrows and barn swallows."

An aggressive deterrent program has been implemented to keep large birds (red tail hawks, geese, ducks, and turkey vultures) out of the airfield environment, base ponds, airfield and golf course. These deterrents include streamers and acoustical devices. The airfield managers, 28th Civil Engineer Squadron and safety personnel also constantly work together to maintain airfield grass levels to the appropriate heights between 7-14 inches. This greatly reduces the number of perching birds by modifying the habitat inside the airfield.

Along with preventative measures and equipment, three different incentive programs are currently available, including FOD Fighter of the Month, FOD poster and the Golden Bolt program.

Each program is aimed at getting everyone at Ellsworth, not just those who have daily contact with the flightline, involved in reducing FOD to help reduce complacency.

"Complacency leads to ineffectiveness. We are doing well and we haven't had any significant incidents, but like everything in life it can change instantly," Sergeant Harrington said. "We are an Air Force made up of people that are constantly coming and going and we have to ensure that the FOD prevention practices we use now continue, and teach every new person that comes to Ellsworth its importance."

For more information on the FOD incentive programs, contact Sergeant Harrington at (605) 385-6084.