Introduction
The safety of all airport operations primarily lies in every airport’s ability to control debris. Airports often handle thousands of takeoffs and landings each day, and the slightest piece of metal or debris can create a catastrophic event for the planes and personnel on the runway. This is why investment in magnetic sweepers and debris control tools can help strategically mitigate risks with the intended effectiveness of controlling foreign object debris (FOD) so that the functioning of airport operations remains consistent.Â
Understanding the Threat of FOD
Foreign Object Debris refers to any foreign material/debris that is loose on the airfield that can cause damage to an aircraft or unsafe conditions for flight safety. The debris can be as small as a bolt, nut, or metal shaving. Each of these can cost millions in repairs and put pilots and their passengers in danger of accidents. FOD can be ingested into engines or cause damage to tires and fuselages. As such, ongoing runway sweeps and inspections are vital components of safety management in any airport operation.
The Function of Magnetic Sweepers
Magnetic sweepers are specialized tools utilized to collect metal debris from runways, taxiways, and airport aprons. They work using powerful magnets to attract and retain ferrous metals such as nails, screws, shavings, or other pieces that may otherwise go unnoticed during a manual inspection. In just one pass of the magnetic sweeper, maintenance crews can transfer captured hidden metallic hazards, giving them the ability to safely prepare the area for use by airplanes.
Magnetic sweepers can be hand-held units, mounted on vehicles, or towed behind maintenance trucks. A vehicle-mounted runway sweeper can be particularly beneficial at larger airports, allowing the maintenance staff to cover large areas of the runway facility. Whether scheduled regularly as part of the airport’s mechanical maintenance plan or deployed specifically after airport operations such as heavy aircraft maintenance, storm activity, construction activity, or other activity that may dislodge debris, magnetic sweepers can be effective in securing the safety of those on and using the runway.
Improving Safety/Operations on Runway Surface Areas
Magnetic sweepers reduce the possibility of aircraft damage due to metallic debris significantly by merely utilizing a magnetic collection system. Unlike a traditional mechanical sweeper, the magnetic unit will capture even the smallest-sized pieces of metal, which would be regularly missed by non-magnetic leaf blowers or powders because of their size and/or embedded in the surface layer of the runway. This is important because it allows for reduced aircraft foreign object debris, less downtime, reduced repair costs, and limits safety incidents associated with aircraft foreign object debris.
Furthermore, magnetic sweepers increase efficiency in airport maintenance. By quickly removing debris from large sections of the airport, they minimize runway closure times and maintenance downtimes, which helps to produce a smoother flight schedule with less disruption to arrival and departure airport traffic.
An Important Partner of the Runway Sweeper
Runway sweeps remove dust, gravel, and other non-metallic debris, and the magnetic sweeps remove the metallic debris. Magnetic sweeper operation enhances the operation and adds complete debris control to the runway sweeper operation. Most modern airports operate to fuel the standards put forth in their routine maintenance program to ensure that everyone knows that no debris hazard will exist.
Suggested Resources
Check out our articles on Why Summer is Peak FOD Season or Training Airport Ground Crews to Combat FODÂ for more great ideas.
Summary
Safety in aviation is the most important aspect of aviation, especially debris control as a part of safety. Overall, magnetic sweeper operation is very helpful in minimizing the risk of an accident. When coupled with removing debris, operational efficiency serves both aircraft risk and a higher level of operational integrity. Using magnetic sweepers when conducting routine or scheduled maintenance is a comprehensive solution to foreign object debris prevention and control.
Every aircraft is assured to take off and land on a clear and cleared runway. Investing in “The FOD Control Corporation” represents a repair of airport assets when they commonly default to long-established industry standards in air travel safety and operational integrity and performance reliability.