Here’s a collection of answers to questions we’re commonly asked. If you have a question that hasn’t already been answered, contact us and we’ll be able to get you the answer you’re looking for.
FOD is an acronym used for Foreign Object Debris. FOD is defined as anything that is present in an area of an airport or inside a section of an aircraft that shouldn’t be there. Examples include nuts, bolts, washers, rivets, and other metal components from aircraft, airport equipment, and luggage. Sand, gravel, stones, and fragments of pavement also fall under the FOD definition. This debris causes an estimated US$12 billion in damage every year.
FOD is considered a major safety issue for the aviation industry. Small objects and debris have the potential to seriously damage aircraft or their jet engines, leading to expensive repairs. In some instances, FOD damage has been known to destroy the aircraft or engine requiring complete replacement. For the civil aviation industry, a FOD event may also cause flight delays, and passenger travel disruption that costs airlines and airports hundreds of millions of dollars every year. Unfortunately, foreign object debris can also cause serious injury to the personnel often found working around aircraft. It is important to note that FOD can often be invisible to the naked eye and FOD removal systems need to be relied upon for effective capture and retention of any FOD collected.
The FOD*BOSS has been specially designed to provide an unrivalled FOD pick-up rate. It is towed behind a suitable vehicle such as airport truck, tug or any other vehicle with a suitable towing point. The FOD*BOSS is even capable of being towed behind an electric vehicle: a benefit for those airports engaged in initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint.
The FOD*BOSS efficiently and effectively removes FOD from the surface it is sweeping, using four critical safety design features built into every FOD*BOSS. These features are so effective they have been patented and are not available in any other sweeper. When the FOD is picked up by the FOD*BOSS it is captured and retained within specially designed FODStop™ Barrier systems. These barriers prevent the FOD from sliding around inside the sweeper and falling back onto the tarmac during stop/start maneuvers and cornering.
The length of service life varies according to environmental conditions, the emptying frequency and the pavement surfaces the sweeper is used on. In general, the FOD*BOSS sweeper has an expected lifetime of at least 4,500 miles or more than 7,200 kms. Again, this is contingent on circumstances of use.
The FOD*BOSS is conveniently available in three sizes: a Single 8-foot-wide (2.44 m) airport FOD sweeper; a Duplex 16-foot-wide (4.88 m) model; and a Triplex 24-foot-wide (7.3 m) system. Combining these sweep widths with a forward operating speed of up to 40 mph (65 kph), in each hour of operation, the Single can sweep an area of 2,731,450 ft2 (253,760 m2), the Duplex 5,462,900 ft2 (507,520 m2) and the Triplex 8,171,961 ft2 (759,200 m2).
No specialist training or special licensing is needed to operate the FOD*BOSS, except for normal driving skills, towing awareness, and knowledge of operating a vehicle airside at aviation facilities. Complete instructions on how to set up your FOD*BOSS are included in the Operator’s Manual.
No. The FOD*BOSS adjusts automatically as it wears. Based on performance tests and over 30 years’ experience, the FOD*BOSS Ultimate’s efficiency remains consistent during its life. The only adjustment that should be made is to the GroundForce™ Tow Hitch, where it is recommended the height and angle of the GroundForce Tow Hitch is adjusted to match the towing point height. Full instructions are included in the Operator’s Manual.
The FOD*BOSS is available worldwide through our specialist dealer network. Simply complete our contact form to receive a quote, usually within a 24-to-48-hour period. Not ready to get a quote yet? You can learn more by visiting our Resources page.
This depends upon the amount of debris on the tarmac. Emptying the FOD*BOSS is recommended on a regular basis. It is commonly found that when an airport first uses the FOD*BOSS, they will need to empty it more frequently than in subsequent sweeps. We suggest a typical emptying interval range from 20 to 30 minutes or allow no more than 6 pounds to 8 pounds (3 kg to 4 kg) of debris to sit inside the sweeper. Emptying as often as possible is the key to ensuring your FOD*BOSS’s long lifespan.
Ultimately emptying frequency depends upon how much debris is on the surface being swept. Expect to pick up 1.75 pounds to 3.5 pounds (800 gms to 1.6 kgs) of material per mile (1.6 km). However, the amount of cleaning depends on surface conditions and how well-maintained your facility is. More frequent sweeping results in less FOD collected.
Yes. To prevent foreign object damage in aviation and other industries, the FOD*BOSS can be used on most hard surfaces including concrete, bitumen, or asphalt. It is also very suited for grooved runways, areas with expansion joints, pavements with interlocking blocks, or fine-textured spray seal surfaces. The FOD*BOSS has been manufactured with highly durable materials ensuring an expected lifetime of > 4,500 miles (7,200 kms). It is also protected with a 10-year guarantee/warranty and accidental damage cover.
Yes. Aerosweep provide a repair service if required, however most damage can be easily repaired in the workshop. Each FOD*BOSS is supplied with a repair kit that can also extend the service life of the FOD*BOSS.