All aircraft require a clean environment in which to operate safely and effectively. Any Foreign Object Debris (FOD) has the potential to shut down an airplane, cause serious damage, delay a flight or worse, cause an accident! For this reason, keeping runways, ramps, aprons and taxiways clear of debris is critical1. Active sweeping of these areas is universally recognized as a standard best practice to prevent incidents.
According to the aerospace industry $1.1 to $2 Billion is spent annually in direct costs associated with FOD. This does not include the ancillary costs of the issues caused by FOD, that are believed to be 10 times that for a total cost of $12B2. You can mitigate these preventable costs to your operations by contacting 1-800-SWEEPER to support your airport operations.
Sweeping an airport requires a heightened level of attention to surrounding activities. Unlike a road, where there is a set traffic pattern and the lines are generally clear, an airport has vehicles of all shapes and sizes operating sporadically over the paved areas. 1-800-SWEEPER drivers are expertly trained to operate their vehicles, and those who are assigned to airports specifically recognize that all dimensions of their environment are to be within their constant state of awareness when sweeping.
Hire professional operators and specialized street sweeping trucks to manage your FOD! We not only sweep the airports and runways, our teams can sweep your parking lots as well.
Airports have a special supply of fluids that keep airplanes safe and operational. While these products are necessary for the airline industry, they can cause concern for the environment if they are not properly managed. The intense fuel use, as well as the de-icing fluid including glycol, needs to be contained. Controlling runoff and regular sweeping ensures the environment is cared for and the airport’s environmental impact is minimized.
Cleaning the FOD to avoid catch basin clogging is the best preventative maintenance practice for controlling contaminated stormwater runoff. Our 1-800-SWEEPER services include catch basin cleaning. This is an important piece of the overall stormwater control plan and part of your Best Management Practice (BMP). Standing water is not good for airport traffic, thus keeping catch basins clean and the storm runoff under control with good landscaping and regular power sweeping maintenance is a winning combination.
Airport parking garages are enclosed spaces where FOD can accumulate and become more concentrated. Cleaning these parking garage spaces can be challenging–our expert team of sweeping professionals have the experience and knowledge to ensure an optimal environment for airport traffic and passengers.
1-800-SWEEPER Partners also provide airports with pressure washing services, also referred to as power washing. Exterior airport surfaces including sidewalks, parking lots, parking structures and auxiliary buildings need to be cleaned regularly and often require power washing to remove built-up FOD and dirt. Outsourcing your airport pressure washing to a 1-800-SWEEPER Partner is a wise investment as we have the proper equipment to get the job done safely and efficiently. Our professional technicians have experience with all exterior finishes including wood, metal, stucco, vinyl, brick, concrete and stone, and are able to clean airport exterior accents as well as hard to reach spaces.
Schedule service today and contact 1-800-SWEEPER for all your airport power sweeping needs!
1. National Aerospace Standard (NAS) 412, maintained by National Aerospace FOD Prevention, Inc.
2. “The Economic Cost of FOD”. Insight SRI Ltd. Retrieved 2009-12-0
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