Aerostar celebrates 3rd annual debris-removal event
Employees at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, along with representatives from different airlines and members of the airport community, celebrated their 3rd annual FOD (Foreign Object Debris) Walk with the goal of cleaning up ramps and other areas where airplanes operate.
Participants covered about three miles of the airport’s operational areas during the FOD Walk, searching for any piece or object that could potentially endanger or obstruct the airplanes’ movement.
Aerostar Airport Holdings annually conducts this event that aims to create awareness about any potential dangers while at the same time finding and collecting objects such as plastics, bolts and screws, pieces of metal, and loose bits of luggage, wood, and glass, among others.
The garbage or debris found on the runway and ramps can cause damage to airplanes’ wheels and possibly their engines, as well as harm persons in case objects are expelled.
“Operational safety is a priority to us. Thus the importance of promoting and supporting initiatives such as this one,” said Agustín Arellano, CEO of Aerostar Aiport Holdings, the company that manages the LMM airport.
“Even that which doesn’t seem dangerous on a large scale can pose a threat to areas of operations such as ramps. Any small object can endanger our employees and potentially jeopardize the operation of aircraft,” he added.
At this year’s event, participants recovered 10 bags full of debris (less than 20 lbs), the equivalent of more than a 50 percent reduction in comparison to last year’s results. This decline in materials collected is the result of the awareness effort promoted by Aerostar within the airport community.
The FOD Walk initiative is part of the objectives of the Operational Safety Management System that Aerostar carries out at the airport.