What the FOD? Foreign Object Debris Testing at NTS

"As defined in AC 150/5210-24, Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Management, FOD is any object, live or not, located in an inappropriate location in the airport environment that has the capacity to injure airport or air carrier personnel and damage aircraft." via https://www.faa.gov/airports/airport_safety/fod/

FOD can be a tool left behind, a piece of debris from a plane that recently departed, or a flock of geese. The presence of FOD is a significant concern for the safety of air travel. Airports, Airlines and manufacturers all play a part in the avoidance and minimization of FOD.Testing systems and materials to determine their ability to withstand FOD is a key part of the development of safe airplanes. NTS conducts FOD testing at a number of our laboratories, including Tinton Falls, NJ.The video below shows a 0.75 inch steel ball traveling at 187 mph hitting a 0.085 thick aluminum plate. The takeoff speed of the Airbus A340 and the Boeing 747 is 180 mph. The result is the 0.26 inch deep dent in the plate. The 747 outer skin, made out of aluminum alloy, is just 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) thick. Installed between it and the internal panels are soundproof and heat-resistant insulation materials. The wall is 19 centimeters (7.5 inches) thick.