FOD program seeks creativity

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jason McCasland
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  With more than 60 aircraft assigned here and many others that use the second largest flightline in the Air Force, a single program helps keep engine damage from foreign object debris to a minimum.

The 2nd Bomb Wing FOD monitor coordinates all FOD preventative measures here to guarantee the B-52H Stratofortress, valued at more than $73 million, stays airworthy to provide the backbone of the bomber force with the ability for global attack and precision engagement.

"The program works to virtually eliminate any damage to aircraft caused by FOD by utilizing three areas: awareness and education, prevention and protection," said Tech. Sgt. Steven Vance, 2 BW FOD monitor. "By coordinating things such as FOD walks and sweepers, we can prevent damage to aircraft engines, tires and more. In one week, a FOD walk picked up more than 330 pounds of FOD and more than 5,000 pounds after the air show."

Almost anything can be classified as FOD: rocks, pieces of metal, nuts and bolts, paper and more, but the responsibility of keeping an eye out for these items does not rest on the shoulders of one office. Everyone who works on or visits the flightline is a key member to preventing damage that could cause an engine failure, an aircraft incident or even loss of life.

Since it's everyone's responsibility to help keep a watchful eye for potential FOD threats, the 2 BW FOD prevention program has some incentives in place to reward those who help raise awareness and prevention.

The FOD program has a quarterly FOD poster contest that hopes to promote the awareness and prevention which can help reduce the number of FOD incidents that caused more than $3 million of damage in the past five years.

"Anyone can submit a FOD poster, not just a maintainer or flightline worker," said Vance.

The winning FOD poster gets printed on a 25 by 18 inch foam poster board and presented at the wing FOD meeting with group and squadron commanders. The winners will receive a certificate of recognition from the 2 BW vice commander, a two-day pass and a personalized tail flash plaque.

At the end of the year, the four quarterly winners compete against each other to be the FOD poster of the year. The winner's poster is entered into the annual National Aerospace FOD Prevention, Inc. conference poster contest. If the poster wins, it is nationally published and distributed through the military and civilian aerospace community along with other prizes from NAFPI.

To enter a FOD poster, participants must submit an entry that fits on an 8 1/2 by 11 inch sheet of paper or electronic equivalent, and include a slogan with the acronym "FOD." Submissions must also have the artist's name, work center and supervisor's name and must be entered by the end of the quarter. The next chance to submit entries will be the end of the January - March quarter.

For more information on how to submit an entry or general FOD questions contact Tech. Sgt. Steven Vance at steven.vance.1@us.af.mil or call 456-9275.