The alarm clocks went off very early last Friday for a dedicated group of volunteers from YVR who hit the airfield to clear Foreign Object Debris (FOD) as part of the 20th annual FOD Walk.
With garbage bags in tow, 200+ participants – the most the event has seen in its history at YVR – scoured the airport’s runways, taxiways and aprons for loose objects such as small pieces of plastic, bits of suitcases, luggage tags, screws, etc.
Anywhere other than an airfield, these items are known as garbage. But at an airport, they’re hazards that can cause serious damage to aircraft or pose a safety risk for passengers. That’s why we work so hard to raise awareness of how and why to keep YVR FOD-free.
And it’s also why we have proactive, daily programs in place to ensure just that. In addition to regular visual inspections and ongoing education campaigns, a high-tech radar system helps detect and pinpoint objects on the runways – day or night. Pretty cool, huh? Check it out here.