Chennault International Airport
Background
Originally known as Lake Charles Air Force Base, the Chennault International Airport has a long history of providing safe and reliable air transportation services to both military and civilian airlines. Chennault airport has over 1,500 employees and provides access for over 3,000 operations per month including takeoffs, landings and “touch-and-go” operations. Since the construction of this airfield, Chennault has continuously adapted to changing uses while embracing new innovations in the industry.
Mitchel D. “Mitch” O’Neal, director of operations at Chennault International Airport, served 24 years in the Air Force before his career in aviation industry. He worked for Northrop Grumman as the Foreign object debris and tool control manager, helping to achieve zero-defect ratings in those areas for the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) program. Mitch has a nine-year history with Chennault and served as an AAAE-certified operations specialist and airfield superintendent. Now as the director of operations he stays aware of innovations in the industry which can make the Chennault airport safer for travelers.
Challenge
Keeping the runways clean is critical to the safe landing and takeoff procedures for ground workers, flight crews, and travelers. Practices involve ongoing aggressive prevention, monitoring, and cleaning measures to keep foreign objects and debris (FOD) off the runway and apron.
High risk areas include areas where taxiways interest with ground vehicle access roads. Rocks, asphalt, metal objects, and other debris can be tracked i ground vehicle tire tread and deposited onto taxiways. Debris sources include both internal debris generated from airport construction projects as well as debris tracked in from external roads and highways.
Solution
Mitch installed FOD Prevention Mats at the Chennault International Airport airfield entrance and evaluated the impact it had on FOD from vehicle tires. After installing the mats, Mitch stated that “the simple act of driving across these mats will cause the tires to flex, helping to remove FOD from the tread of the tires.” FOD Prevention Mats can be placed on access roads to capture debris that is lodged in vehicle tire tread before they enter the high risk zones. According to Mitch, FOD Prevention Mats are “a simple device that offers another opportunity to reduce debris onto the airport environment.”
Modern solutions for FOD control like our FOD Prevention Mats, have revolutionized the airline industry and further reduce foreign object debris that can enter the airfield. Originally designed as a reusable stabilized construction entrance, the effective design of the mats allows a wider application as is seen in the case of the Chennault International Airport. The mats can also be used to contain trackout from airport construction projects. The effective and low maintenance solution can contain debris without introducing rock or aggregate to the airfield.
About FODS, LLC.
Based in Englewood Colorado, FODS Trackout Control System replace ineffective and costly traditional rock stabilized construction entrances, saving you valuable time and money. Our proprietary mat design works to effectively remove mud and sediment from your vehicle tires without damaging the tire or the ground’s surface. We provide the only durable, reusable, and environmentally friendly trackout control system currently available on the market. FODS Trackout Control Mats are 100% Made in the USA and are reusable and recyclable.