Improving FOD Prevention On The Airfield
Chennault International Airport
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Originally known as Lake Charles Air Force Base, the Chennault International Airport has a long history of providing safe and reliable air transportation services to both military and civilian aircraft. Chennault airport has over 1,500 employees and provides access for over 3,000 operations per month including takeoffs, landings and “touch-and-go” operations. Since the construction of this airfield, Chennault has continuously adapted to changing uses while embracing new innovations in the industry.
Mitchel D. “Mitch” O’Neal, director of operations at Chennault International Airport, served 24 years in the Air Force before his career in aviation industry. He worked for Northrop Grumman as the Foreign object debris and tool control manager, helping to achieve zero-defect ratings for the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) program. Mitch has a nine-year history with Chennault and served as an AAAE-certified operations specialist and airfield superintendent. Now as the director of operations he stays aware of innovations in the industry which can make the Chennault airport safer for travelers.
Keeping the runways clean is critical for safe landing and takeoff operations for both ground workers and flight crews. Practices involve ongoing aggressive prevention, monitoring, and cleaning measures to keep foreign objects and debris (FOD) off the runway and apron. High risk areas include intersections between aircraft taxiways and ground vehicle access roads. Rocks, asphalt, metal objects, and other debris can be tracked in ground vehicle tire tread and deposited onto taxiways. Potential FOD sources include both internal debris generated from airport maintenance and construction projects as well as debris tracked in from external roads and highways.
Mitch installed FOD Prevention Mats at the Chennault International Airport airfield entrance and evaluated the impact it had on FOD from vehicle tires. After installing the mats, Mitch stated that “the simple act of driving across these mats will cause the tires to flex, helping to remove FOD from the tread of the tires.” FOD Prevention Mats can be placed on access roads to capture debris that is lodged in vehicle tire tread before they enter the high risk zones. According to Mitch, FOD Prevention Mats are “a simple device that offers another opportunity to reduce debris onto the airport environment.”
“The simple act of driving across these mats will cause the tires to flex, helping to remove FOD from the tread of the tires. ... [FOD Prevention Mats are] a simple device that offers another opportunity to reduce debris onto the airport environment.”
Modern FOD control measures continue to improve the ability for airport operators to ensure safe travel. FOD Prevention Mats address an often overlooked source of debris at the source instead of relying on reactive cleaning measures. The critical areas between ground vehicle access roads and aircraft taxiways can be further protected by implementing this simple device in the line of travel.
FOD Prevention Mats are easily transported, configured, installed, removed, and relocated to reduce FOD tracked from vehicle tires onto access roads and aircraft intersections. FOD Prevention Mats contain rows of alternating pyramids that are engineered to separate tire treads and dislodge debris. Sediment and debris collect at the base of the pyramids away from vehicle tires. The FOD Prevention Mat System can help to reduce foreign object debris (FOD) that is tracked onto active taxiways. FOD Prevention Mats can also contain sediment and debris that may be contaminated with PFAS or other hazardous substances.
FODS Mats can withstand weights in excess of 80 tons per mat, and are made from a durable polyethylene which make FODS easy to transport, move, relocate, and reuse. FODS include a 15 year UV inhibitor enabling applications on both short term projects and permanent installations.
FOD Prevention Mats are 100% made and sourced in the USA and can be completely recycled at the end of their 15 year lifecycle.
Originally designed as a reusable stabilized construction entrance, the effective design of the mats allows a wider application as is seen in the case of the Chennault International Airport. The mats can also be used to contain trackout from airport construction projects. The effective and low maintenance solution can contain debris without introducing rock or aggregate to the airfield.
Contact FODS today for more information.
844-200-3637
info@getfods.com.