Keeping debris from planes

The Kelowna International Airport was teeming with volunteers Friday morning who were looking for debris on the airport's apron.

Dozens of airport employees took to the the apron, where planes load and unload passengers, for the annual foreign object debris, or FOD, walk, beginning at 11 a.m.

While employees keep an eye out for debris on the runway and apron every day, Friday's organized event was part of the Canadian Airport Council Safety Week, recognized by 62 airports across Canada.

“The whole idea is to heighten that awareness of safety because our goal of course it to ensure that everybody goes home at the end of the day safe and our travelling public isn't impacted by anything,” said Sean Parker, emergency operations and readiness manager at YLW.

Parker says the most common foreign objects found are zipper tags that have fallen off luggage.

“Right from the time an engine starts on an aircraft, be it a turbo prop or a jet, there's a potential that debris is picked up and thrown or flung across the apron, which could strike another human being or damage an aircraft,” Parker said.

In addition to the volunteers at work Friday, airport crews showed off a trailer device that was designed and built by a YLW mechanic, which uses magnets to pick up metal debris.

“It goes back and forth throughout the day picking up anything that's metallic,” Parker said. “It's a great initiative done by one of our staff and it's proven to be very successful.”

As thanks for their time, volunteers were treated to a barbecue put on by YLW firefighters following the walk.