Improving Airport Safety by Removing FOD with the MS 2000 FALCON Tow-Behind Magnetic Sweeper (Case Study)

Background

A major international airport was facing ongoing issues with magnetic debris (FOD – Foreign Object Debris) across its operational areas.

FOD poses serious risks in aviation, including:

• Aircraft tire punctures
• Debris ingestion into jet engines (leading to expensive engine damage)
• Damage to ground handling equipment
• Potential injuries to airport personnel

The Challenge

Significant quantities of metallic debris were present not only on runways, but also on service roads and in hangar zones.

As part of our standard approach, we carried out a free on-site test of the MS 2000 FALCON magnetic sweeper — a service we offer to all airports.

Within just 50 minutes of testing, nearly 500 grams of ferrous debris were collected. The most common items included screws and washers.

An unexpected but important source of contamination turned out to be conventional runway brushing machines. Using the MS 2000 FALCON, we recovered a substantial amount of metal wires originating from these sweepers — debris that could easily cause tire damage.

During testing, the sweeper also revealed a serious safety concern:
One drainage channel cover was insufficiently secured. The magnetic sweeper was strong enough to lift and shift it. Airport safety technicians identified this as a major hazard, as ingestion of such an object into an aircraft engine could have catastrophic consequences.

The Solution

The airport implemented the MS 2000 FALCON tow-behind magnetic sweeper as part of its FOD management strategy.

Key features:

• Easily attaches to standard cars, tractors, or sweepers
• Working width: 2,000 mm (also available in 3,000 mm and 6,000 mm versions)
• Maximum operating speed: 25 km/h
• Simple cleaning system with quick-release mechanism
• Collected debris stored in additional FOD collection boxes
• Adjustable ground clearance (30–200 mm)
• Suitable for paved surfaces as well as unpaved areas and grassy runway edges

Thanks to its width and flexibility, the sweeper can be used across multiple airport zones — from runways to service roads and apron areas.

Results Achieved

The airport evaluated the solution positively and integrated the MS 2000 FALCON into its daily maintenance procedures.

After implementation, the following improvements were recorded:

• Systematic removal of hazardous FOD
• Fewer tire-related incidents
• Enhanced overall operational safety
• Identification of improperly secured infrastructure elements

Link to MS FALCON page

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