Quarterly FOD walk clears ramp of debris

  • Published
  • By Megan Just
  • 452 AMW Public Affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  A deep sea fishing hook, a pot of lip balm, and a backpack buckle were three of the finds in the quarterly wing foreign object damage walk Jan. 28. At 7:30 a.m. sharp, almost 200 FOD walk volunteers formed a single file line that began at the aircraft control tower and stretched the half-mile width of March Air Reserve Base's ramp.

FOD on an airfield is a major concern. Even the tiniest pebble or screw has the potential to pop an aircraft tire, cause an in-flight emergency or demolish parts of the propulsion system.

"We take our FOD program seriously," said Master Sgt. Todd Mollerup, Quality Assurance Inspector for the 452nd Maintenance Group.

With a C-17 engine replacement costing $1.4 million dollars and a pair of new propellers costing $29,000, Sergeant Mollerup, who has been an engine maintainer for 27-years, knows firsthand that little pieces of debris can do big financial damage.

"[FOD] costs the taxpayer, that's for sure," Sergeant Mollerup said.

The wing FOD walk reduces foreign object damage by ensuring there isn't debris on the flight line to begin with.

On the morning of the Jan. 28 FOD walk, Sergeant Mollerup and a second Quality Insurance Inspector, Master Sgt. Daniel Melo, cruised the forming line of Airmen in a golf cart. Once they were spread evenly, half of the Airmen turned to sweep northwest, toward the KC-135s; the other half faced southwest, sweeping toward the C-17s.

Sergeant Mollerup pointed out the apparent cleanliness of the ramp's vast surface area of seemingly spotless concrete squares. "You'd be surprised by how much stuff they'll come up with," Sergeant Mollerup said.

He was right. By the time the FOD walk ended at 8:30 a.m., the Airmen had collected 24 pounds of debris.

After most of the FOD walkers had departed, Sergeant Mollerup and Sergeant Melo began analyzing the contents of each debris bag, separating the problem FOD (the fish hook, pot of lip balm and backpack buckle) from the expected FOD (gravel, chunks of hardened sealant, splinters of wood). Identifying the source of the problem FOD helps Sergeant Mollerup and Sergeant Melo prevent similar FOD drops in the future.

Knowing the weight of the total amount of FOD enables Sergeant Mollerup to recognize trends that point to possible problems. A total mass of 20 or 30 pounds is normal for the March ramp, but if there were to be upwards of 60 pounds, it might indicate a larger issue, such as ramp maintenance, FOD discipline, or too much debris on the roadways outside the flight line.

The 452nd and 752nd aircraft maintenance squadrons each conduct weekly FOD walks in their areas of responsibility. Additionally, airfield management uses sweeping vehicles to clear the taxiways and runway, usually several times a day.

The wing-level FOD walk is a quarterly requirement, which enables the 452nd Maintenance Group to cover a much larger area and have the assistance of several hundred pairs of eyes. The wing FOD walkers are able to cover areas the weekly FOD walks can't reach, such as the Aero Club, transient aircraft parking, Customs and locations beyond the designated secure areas marked by red lines.

The January FOD walk had to be rescheduled three times, due to the heavy rains that brought 5.7 inches of rain to March Air Reserve Base. The rainwater is a special FOD concern because it fills the expansion joints on the ramp, bringing rocks and hardened sealant to the surface. Other debris, such as pieces of wood, float easily onto the flight line on the surface of moving water.

Even after the rains subsided, the maintenance group had to wait an additional day for the puddles in the ramp's many low places to subside. The third scheduling was a charm, and the FOD walkers were met with a clear, sunny sky and majestic views of the snow-covered San Bernardino Mountains.

Although there were nearly 200 participants in the Jan. 28 FOD walk, Sergeant Mollerup said there needs to be a lot more people to make the gaps between walkers smaller. Most of the walkers from the wing-wide event were Airmen from the 452nd Maintenance Group and Sergeant Mollerup hopes to see more Airmen from the rest of the wing in future FOD walks.

Sergeant Mollerup also encourages civilians and members of other March units to come out for the walks. And with weather, fresh air and beautiful views, he says the walk is a perfect excuse to get out of the office for an hour. The next FOD walk has already been set for April 7, weather permitting.

Four items were planted on the ramp as rewards for FOD walkers with sharp eyes. Staff Sgt. Roberto Santos and Staff Sgt. Gearld Marvel found the coins donated by Col. Jeffrey Pennington; Senior Airman Tony Vitela and Tech. Sgt. Kerry Summitt found 452nd Air Mobility Wing patches.