FOD Prevention Inspection — what QA looks for

FOD program in practice: housekeeping, hardware control, headgear/badges, vehicle FOD checks. (foreign object damage · FOD walk · flightline housekeeping)

What QA looks for
During a FOD prevention inspection, QA should look for:

1. FOD walk execution and supervision — verify a SNCO or higher is appointed as FOD walk supervisor and oversees the walk's entirety [AFI 21-101 1FW Sup para 11.8.3.10.3].

2. Grounding points condition — inspect all grounding points to ensure they are kept clean of debris; these are flagged as high-interest items [DAFI 21-106 AMC Sup TRAVISAFB Sup para 2.2.3].

3. Critical FOD areas — confirm inspection of critical areas (on-aircraft, engines, mission-critical maintenance zones) as documented in the base's critical/non-critical FOD areas list [AFMCI 21-100V2 para 4.1.1]; ensure focus on asphalt joints, "pop-outs," concrete seams, and tie-down points [AFSCMAN 21-102 OO-ALC Sup para 13.4.9.1].

4. Engine inlet and fastener checks — verify thorough inspection inside and forward of engine inlets for loose or missing fasteners [AFI 11-2B-1V3 DYESSAFB Sup para 5.7.4].

5. Pre-flight flight deck inspection — confirm maintenance personnel conduct flight deck inspection for foreign objects prior to aircrew arrival [AFI 21-101-AFRCSUP-433AWSUP para 11.8.3.2.2.1.1].

6. Equipment and tools accountability — verify tools, equipment, and unattended items are controlled and accounted for to prevent FOD sources [DAFI 21-106 AMC Sup TRAVISAFB Sup para 2.3.1].

7. FOD walk documentation — confirm findings (other than organic foreign objects) are

Unofficial — answered from indexed publication text, which may be incomplete or out of date. Your MAJCOM/unit supplement may be stricter. Verify the official PDF before acting or writing a finding.
🔎 Derived guidance — no indexed publication publishes a literal checklist for this specific inspection or evaluation. Each item above is inferred by applying the cited governing requirement to it. The controlling document is the published RIL / MICT checklist or your locally approved evaluation list — pull it before inspecting or writing a finding.
Show the 8 source passage(s) this answer is built from
AFI 21-101 1FW Sup · para 11.8.3.10.3 as of 2025-09-03 · View in PDF → · official source ↗

areas around and under their aircraft immediately prior to aircrew arrival and aircraft recovery operations and maintain a general awareness of the FOD potential around their aircraft at all times. This “general awareness” applies to all maintainers at all times. A SNCO or higher will be appointed as FOD walk Supervisor and is responsible for the entirety of the FOD walk. Collection bags/bins will be available during FOD walks to contain all foreign objects. Flashlights will be utilized during the hours of darkness. All findings other than organic foreign objects (sticks, rocks, etc.) will be provided to the QA office/Wing FOD Monitor weekly. 11.8.3.10.3. (Added-1FW) A daily FOD walk will be conducted and is assigned as follows: 11.8.3.10.3.1.1. (Added-1FW) 94th FS/FGS will inspect their

on’s FOD walk is located on the 60 MXG QA SharePoint at the following link: https://usaf.dps.mil/teams/60MXG/QA/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2Fteams%2F60MXG %2FQA%2FF%29%20FOD%2DDOP&viewid=f947a0f9%2Da9b8%2D4bf4%2Da96a% 2D57192343a13b 2.2.3. All grounding points will be kept clean of debris at all times and should be a high interest item for FOD walks. 2.2.4. FOD walks will be accomplished during daylight hours. 2.3. Tool and Equipment Management. 2.3.1. Tools, equipment, and other items left unattended in, on, or around aircraft or other aerospace equipment pose a potential source of FOD and therefore are required to be adequately controlled and accounted for. The Tool and Equipment Management Program objective is to prevent and eliminate FOD to aircraft, engines, missiles, training and suppor

AFI 21-101-AFRCSUP-433AWSUP · para 11.8.3.2.2.1 as of 2022-02-07 · View in PDF → · official source ↗

re, tools, etc., during operations and maintenance. 16 AFI21-101_AFRCSUP_433AWSUP 7 FEBRUARY 2022 All loose objects, regardless of their origin, can cause catastrophic and costly damage to an aircraft, major end item or loss of life. 11.8.3.2.2.1. (Added) Foreign Object Damage (FOD) Prevention Practices. FOD awareness and prevention is everyone’s responsibility. Some FOD prevention requirements are listed below: 11.8.3.2.2.1.1. (Added) Prior to aircrew show, maintenance personnel will perform a flight deck inspection for Foreign Objects (FO). Aircrew members prior to flight will ensure that the flight deck is FO free. 11.8.3.2.2.1.2. (Added) Plug or cap all openings, ports, lines, hoses, electrical connections, and ducts on aircraft, engines, support equipment, AGE, trainers or components

safety belt or armband during pre- and post- flight activities while on the Dyess AFB flightline during hours of darkness. 5.7. Foreign Object Damage (FOD) Inspections. 5.7.1. The aircraft commander will designate a minimum of two crewmembers to perform a foreign object damage (FOD) walk prior to engine start for each sortie. 5.7.2. The FOD walk will cover the area from the engine intakes to taxiway centerline. 5.7.3. FOD checks will include the grated area underneath the parked aircraft. 5.7.4. FOD checks will also include a thorough inspection inside and forward of the engine inlets looking for loose and/or missing fasteners. Immediately report any loose or missing fasteners, or any other anomaly which could possibly result in FOD, to the maintenance flight line production supervisor. 5.

AFMCI 21-100V2 · para 4.1.1 as of 2025-05-01 · open official PDF ↗

D OBJECT PREVENTION PROGRAMS. 4.1. Foreign Object Damage (FOD) Prevention and Dropped Object Prevention (DOP) Programs. 4.1.1. FOD is any damage to an aircraft, engine, aircraft system, component, tire, munitions, or SE caused by foreign objects which may or may not degrade the required safety and/or operational characteristics of the aforementioned items. The two categories of FOD areas are critical and non-critical. FOD critical areas are where mission-critical maintenance is performed (e.g., on-aircraft, jet engine, missile munitions, electronics, commodities, fuel cell, major sub-assembly, support equipment, and any other mission-critical areas where strict FOD controls are required). Non-critical FOD areas are areas not defined previously. HQ AFSC will identify and document critical/n

AFSCMAN 21-102 OO-ALC Sup · para 13.4.9.2 as of 2024-12-12 · View in PDF → · official source ↗

n area in the event of changes or new workload locations, and forward updated listings to the OO-ALC FOD monitor to maintain currency. 13.4.8.3. Refer to OO-ALC QA management information system (i.e., SharePoint), FOD/DOP program or contact the designated FOD program representative for the current FOD critical areas list. 13.4.9.1. Areas such as asphalt joints, grounding points, “pop-outs” on concrete pads, seams along concrete pads, ground and tie-down points will be a focus of the pre-engine start FOD inspection/FOD walk. AFSCMAN21-102_OO-ALCSUP 26 JULY 2023 79 13.4.9.2. HILLAFBI 13-204, Airfield Operations, has established local guidelines for wearing hats and head covers on Hill AFB airfield (flight line) regarding FOD prevention and safety. OO- ALC GSUs will refer to the host base loc

AFMCI 21-100V2 · para 4.4.1.7 as of 2025-05-01 · open official PDF ↗

re detailed guidance is developed, implemented, and maintained for the following: 4.3.1. AFSC FOD/DOP Monitor. 4.3.2. Air Base Wing (ABW)/ALC FOD/DOP Monitor. 4.3.3. FOD/DOP Focal Point. AFMCI21-100V2 22 JANUARY 2024 25 4.4. Foreign Object Damage (FOD) Prevention Program. 4.4.1. The AFSC FOD Prevention Program must address, at a minimum, the following: 4.4.1.1. Capping and plugging. 4.4.1.2. Standardized flight line clothing policy. 4.4.1.3. Procedures for jewelry and other items worn in maintenance areas. 4.4.1.4. Procedures for escorting visiting personnel. 4.4.1.5. Procedures for the control of work order residue. 4.4.1.6. Teardown processes. 4.4.1.7. Procedures to control work area foreign objects. 4.4.1.8. Procedures to ensure pilots and aircrew account for all equipment and personal

QTP 24-3-B255 · para 5.4.6.2 as of 2021-12-10 · open official PDF ↗

FMAN 24-306 5.4.6. Foreign Object Damage (FOD). Vehicle operators will remove FOD from tires during daily the vehicle inspection. Before entering the airfield, a physical check for loose/unsecured objects and an inspection of the tire treads for FOD will be accomplished, with the exception of emergency vehicles responding to actual situations. 5.4.6.1. Any vehicle which has been driven on an unpaved surface will have a tire FOD inspection accomplished prior to re-entering the airfield area. Vehicles that frequent the flight line will be equipped with a FOD picker and a covered FOD container. 5.4.6.2. FOD picker will be etched with the vehicle number painted on red or orange (or have a red streamer attached). 5.4.6.3. FOD picker will be annotated on vehicle inspection form. 5.4.6.4. FOD con

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Derived from the indexed corpus (rebuilt on refresh · this page built 2026-07-14). The checklist of record is your command's RIL / MICT listing — this page is training context.

Other inspections: AGE Ready Line / In-Use Inspection · CTK / Tool Accountability Inspection · TMDE / Calibration Check · Fire Extinguisher Checks · Flightline Vehicle Inspection · Grounding Points & Static Grounds · Aircraft Towing Observation · Aircraft Jacking Observation · Refuel / Defuel Observation · Corrosion Control Inspection · Forms & Documentation Review · Technical Data Compliance Evaluation · HAZMAT / Flammables Storage Inspection · Impoundment Procedures Review

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