Small Debris.
Significant Cost.
Foreign Object Debris on airport ramp areas can cause recurring aircraft damage and operational costs — even at relatively low strike rates.
FOD can cause approximately
$60,000 in tire damage
Industry data suggests ramp FOD can generate significant tire damage costs across aircraft operations.
The figures below outline a conservative estimate of this exposure.
Key Figures
~$60,000
Total Exposure
Per 100,000 aircraft movements
~$19,710
Cost Per Tire
Direct & indirect combined
×2 Tires
Damage Rate
Est. per 100k movements
Estimated industry cost exposure from ramp FOD tire damage across 100,000 aircraft movements.
Type & Locale Breakdown
Type & Locale Breakdown
Strikes per 10k Movements
01
Engine + Tire FOD Strikes
All Locations
4.00
02
Tire FOD Strike Rate (80%)
at Ramp Area (20%)
0.64
03
Ramp Area Debris Causing Damage to Tire (33%)
0.21
Based on McCreary (2010) aviation FOD cost analysis. Figures represent conservative estimates of ramp-area tire damage exposure and do not include additional operational or engine damage costs.
Estimated distribution of ramp-area Foreign Object Debris (FOD) incidents by debris type and aircraft location, based on published aviation industry analysis.
Direct & Indirect FOD Expenses
Total exposure per 100,000 movements
$60K
Based on two tire replacements per 100k movements at $19,710 each — McCreary (2010)
Direct Cost
Parts
$6,570
Indirect Cost
2X Direct Costs — Labor & Delays
$13,140
Total Tire FOD Expense
$19,710
At $19,710 per tire × 2 tires = $39,420 saved · $58,342 inflation-adjusted (2026)
*Conservative estimate. Gate FOD and aircraft tire damage only. Engine damage excluded.