It is not exactly “Where’s Waldo”, but a similar searching game helps the US Air Force improve foreign object debris awareness and prevents billions of dollars in damage to miliary aircraft and save lives.

Each month, senior aircraft maintenance personnel at participating installations place a small golden bolt along flightlines. The finder gets a prize – ranging from a day pass to gift cards or recognition on a plaque — and bragging rights for the month.

At Travis Air Force Base in California, six squadrons work to clear the flightline, each removing about 20 pounds of debris each month. According to a report published in late 2013, Travis went 22 quarters without a reportable FOD incident. In other words, the base went five years without tallying up $50,000 in aircraft damage attributed to FOD.

FOD walks are a big reason for that success. The game is having a significant impact on aircraft damage prevention.

Examples of Base FOD Programs & Rewards

Air Force Base Location	Program Overview & Notable Results	Rewards for Finding the Bolt
Moody Air Force Base (Georgia)	Run by the 23rd Maintenance Group to clear flightline hazards.	A one-day pass awarded directly by the wing deputy commander.
Travis Air Force Base (California)	Supported a record of 22 consecutive quarters (5 years) without a reportable FOD incident exceeding $50,000 in damage.	A certificate, a $25 Exchange gift card, a $10 food court gift card, and their name on an atrium plaque.
Ali Air Base (Historical deployment)	Utilized during runway cleanups to secure the launch sites of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).	Mission safety assurance and recognition.

FOD Not Limited to Flightlines

Maintenance facilities are another hotbed for small metallic debris such as filings, nuts, washers, and bolts that get picked up by footwear or tires and tracked onto flightlines.

In 2023, an investigation revealed that a flashlight accidentally left behind got sucked into the engine of an F-35 Lightning II assigned to the 56^th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. This FOD damage cost approximately $4 million to repair. In other reports, ground-based accidents across the Air Force doubled from 11 in 2022 to 21 in 2023. Investigators found debris was a driving factor in the rise in costly maintenance incidents.

Costs of FOD at Military Bases

Impact Category	Operational & Financial Metrics	Key Project / Base Examples
Preventing Engine Replacements	• Stray debris (bolts/rocks) destroys titanium compressor blades. • Fighter engines cost $10–$15 million each. • Heavy transport engines can exceed $30 million each.	• F-35 Lightning II (Modern fighter) • C-17 Globemaster III (Large transport aircraft)
Base-Level Success	• 22 consecutive quarters (5.5 years) achieved without a reportable incident. • Zero debris-related damage incidents exceeding $50,000.	• Travis Air Force Base FOD prevention program

Magnetic Sweepers Are a Cost Effective Tool For FOD Damage Prevention

Walks aren’t the only method for discovering and removing FOD. A magnetic sweeper is the perfect tool for removing damaging metal debris from runway cracks and grooves as well as maintenance areas. Designed specifically for the U.S. Air Force; our MKS4000 exceeds MIL Spec S-29174B, and is an efficient and thorough method for clearing large areas quickly.

Military purchasers: when shopping through GSA Advantage, our products are offered under GSA Schedule 78, Contract number is GS-06F-0046N.