Hartsfield-Jackson Hosts 15th Annual FOD Walk

Nearly 100 Airport employees will wake up early Aug. 24 to walk and clear debris from Hartsfield-Jackson’s Runway 8L-26R. It’s all part of the 15th Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Walk, an annual event aimed at promoting safety and security issues at ATL.

FOD inspections take place numerous times every day at Hartsfield-Jackson to keep runways clear of debris, which could cause serious damage to aircraft. Once a year, Airport volunteers walk the 9,000-foot runway and complement the daily inspections conducted by ATL airside operations employees. Airport officials will close Runway 8L-26R and the north cargo ramp for about 30 minutes to enable employees to search for and remove FOD.

This year’s FOD Walk will kick off the first-ever OneATL Safety Always Safety Fest, a daylong event designed to enhance the safety and operational awareness of ATL employees and stakeholders through a series of educational presentations and exhibits. In addition, ATL employees will celebrate and recognize the top safety achievements at the world’s most traveled airport.