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DEFINITIONS
Foreign Object Debris (FOD): A substance, debris or article alien to a vehicle or system which would
potentially cause damage.
Foreign Object Damage (FOD): Any damage attributed to a foreign object that can be expressed in
physical or economic terms which may or may not degrade the product’s required safety and/or
performance characteristics.
Potential FOD: The condition where foreign object debris may cause damage, and/or failure should the
product be put into use. Examples are:
• Metal or wire clippings, solder balls and debris lying in the vicinity or electrical terminals, circuitry,
connectors, components, etc.
• Tools, hardware, or debris left in the vicinity, or in a migratory path or a vehicle’s control system
or engine inlets
• Debris lying on runways, ramps and taxiways
• Propwash exhaust blasts
• Inclement weather
• Ice and salt
• Birds and other animals
• Electro-Static Discharge (ESD)
• Construction debris
FOD Critical Area: Any area where flight hardware is in place and exposure to foreign objects would
potentially cause a system or product failure due to deterioration, malfunction or damage.
Critical FO: Foreign objects in areas from which migration is possible, e.g., through tooling holes, bend
relief cutouts, drain holes, intakes, etc., which are probable to cause system or component malfunction or
deterioration should the product be put into use.
Foreign Object Elimination (FOE): A program or process used to assure a FOD-free product/system