Keeping airfield clean, aircraft flying

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman James Hensley
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
There is one group of Airmen, 56th Civil Engineer Squadron heavy equipment operators, whose efforts have the potential to save the Air Force millions of dollars in aircraft repairs and keep pilots safe in flight.

"Whenever jets are flying we have a sweeper on standby just in case there is any FOD which could interfere with aircraft taking off," said Senior Airman Jacob Henning, 56th CES pavements and equipment journeyman.

Foreign Object Debris is a substance or debris which would potentially cause damage to the vehicle or system. FOD includes loose hardware, tools, parts, pavement fragments, building materials, rocks, sand, pens, coins, badges, hats, soda cans, paper clips, rags, trash, paperwork and even wildlife. Anything that can find its way into an aircraft engine or flight control mechanisms is a recipe for foreign object damage.

"We have three sweepers that take in a couple tons of FOD each week from both the airfield and the streets on base," Henning said.

Removing FOD is a constant challenge and sometimes weather adds another element.

"If the weather gets bad, we're called out to pick up any fallen debris or FOD on the base," said Airman 1st Class Demetrius Smith, 56th CES pavements and equipment journeyman. "Our busiest days are always after a storm hits."

FOD control doesn't just involve cleaning up; it also focuses on prevention to maintain the quality of Luke roads and runways.

"Whenever there is a spall or pothole on the airfield it creates potential for FOD. We are the ones who fix it," Smith said. "We pave concrete and asphalt all over the base."

FOD control is only one part of being a heavy equipment operator.

"We dig the trenches with excavators for whenever there's a water break or when the electricians have to lay down wire and backfill the trenches after the job is completed," Smith said. "Each day is different because once we finish one job we're on to the next and each job is unique in its difficulty to accomplish."

Without the street sweeper, crane or the Airmen who operate them Luke would not be able to safely train the world's greatest F-35 and F-16 pilots.

"We impact the mission every day," Smith said. "Pilots rely on us to remove FOD and repair any damage on the airfield in order for them to complete their mission."