Touching Bases: FOD alert issued for all airports

The FAA published CertAlert No. 09-06 on March 17 warning airport operators to act promptly when there are reports of FOD on runways. According to the alert, “The FAA’s Office of Safety and Standards has been made aware of instances where some airports have failed to take immediate and positive action following a report of FOD (on or near the runway) from flight crews. While the temptation to continue operations on a contaminated surface may be strong, particularly during periods of increased traffic movement, airports must never lose sight of the primary goal, which first and foremost is safety of flight.” When FOD is found on a runway, airport operators should work closely with air traffic controllers to ensure prompt action is taken to remove the debris. CertAlerts are available at www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/airports/airport_safety/certalerts/.