FOD Walk at the Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Wednesday I was up before the sun as I found myself heading down to the Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport for the annual FOD Walk. FOD stands for Foreign Object Debris and although it is removed multiple times each day from the runways at the airport, for the past 14 years employees participate in a symbolic walk of sorts down 8L/26R, one of the busiest runways at Hartsfield Jackson.

Over 100 people came out early to be shuttled to 8L/26R. The runway was obviously closed but there were planes landing parallel to us on others as the sun rose over Atlanta. The runway was fairly clear of debris with only a few pieces being placed into plastic bags and carried off to be thrown away.

Foreign object debris can cause damage to the behemoth jets as they travel down the runways at any airport. It has been listed as the cause to some major airline accidents and that’s why it is taken very seriously by airports across the globe.

Around 100 airport employees load up onto buses to take them to runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Around 100 airport employees load up onto buses to take them to runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Taylor Andrews (left) boards a bus with Pat Armes and Greg Richardson to take them to runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Taylor Andrews (left) boards a bus with Pat Armes and Greg Richardson to take them to runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Brad Ellis rides a bus to take him to runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Brad Ellis rides a bus to take him to runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Gerald Black steps out onto runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Gerald Black steps out onto runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Around 100 airport employees walk down runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport looking for foreign object debris during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Around 100 airport employees walk down runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport looking for foreign object debris during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Around 100 airport employees walk down runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport looking for foreign object debris during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Around 100 airport employees walk down runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport looking for foreign object debris during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Steven Bien-Aime (left) and Taylor Andrews look for foreign object debris as they walk down runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Steven Bien-Aime (left) and Taylor Andrews look for foreign object debris as they walk down runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Tom Galusha (left) and Connie Davenport look for foreign object debris as they walk down runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Tom Galusha (left) and Connie Davenport look for foreign object debris as they walk down runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Denver Pollard (center) looks for foreign object debris as he and other airport employees walk down runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Denver Pollard (center) looks for foreign object debris as he and other airport employees walk down runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Josh Miller (center) looks for foreign object debris as he and other airport employees walk down runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Josh Miller (center) looks for foreign object debris as he and other airport employees walk down runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Jaimi Tapp (left) and Jim Drinkard look for foreign object debris as they walk down runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Jaimi Tapp (left) and Jim Drinkard look for foreign object debris as they walk down runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Kim Wade (left) and Reese McCranie look for foreign object debris as they walk down runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Kim Wade (left) and Reese McCranie look for foreign object debris as they walk down runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

John Donehoo (left) talks with Chandra Mills and Meese Watson after walking runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

John Donehoo (left) talks with Chandra Mills and Meese Watson after walking runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

A small piece of debris removed from runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015. Around 100 employees walked the length of the runway clearing foreign object debris that can damage airplanes.

A small piece of debris removed from runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015. Around 100 employees walked the length of the runway clearing foreign object debris that can damage airplanes.

Some of the debris removed from runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Some of the debris removed from runway 8L/26R at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the 14th annual FOD Walk on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.