Bridgestone Corporation has announced a groundbreaking collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines and Ethiopian Airports to tackle Foreign Object Debris (FOD) at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. The initiative marks the first time the tyre manufacturer has continuously worked with both an airline and an airport on such co-creation activities.
The programme addresses a critical safety issue in aviation operations. FOD – loose objects on airport surfaces such as stones, metal fragments, or other debris – can cause significant damage to aircraft tyres, potentially affecting flight schedules and compromising safety. At Bole International Airport, Ethiopian Airlines' main hub, FOD-related tyre problems had previously highlighted the need for improved operational efficiency through better debris management.
Bridgestone's unique contribution to the initiative stems from its comprehensive tyre inspection system. The company analyses all used tyres returned from airline customers, accumulating FOD data specific to each carrier. Leveraging this expertise, Bridgestone conducted a detailed analysis of the FOD situation at Bole International Airport and developed a customised solution in partnership with Ethiopian Airlines and Ethiopian Airports.
The collaboration involved continuous support for regular FOD patrols by airport staff, enhanced through several key measures: data analysis based on FOD distribution information, creation of hazard maps identifying high-risk areas, recommendations for efficient debris collection, and awareness activities highlighting FOD's impact on operations.
The ongoing collaboration has delivered impressive outcomes. The incidence rate of aircraft tyre issues caused by FOD has significantly decreased compared to pre-initiative levels. This improvement has contributed to better on-time performance and enhanced safe aircraft operations for Ethiopian Airlines.
Additionally, the initiative has enabled increased utilisation of retreaded tyres, delivering benefits across three key areas: productivity, economic value, and sustainability in aviation operations.
Retta Melaku, Chief Operating Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, commented: "At Ethiopian Airlines, the safety of our passengers, employees, and aircraft is a priority. We are pleased to collaborate with Bridgestone to further strengthen our efforts in reducing FOD at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and ensure safe operations at the hub airport."
Getaneh Adera, Managing Director of Ethiopian Airports, added: "This significant achievement in reducing FOD is the result of our strong commitment for safe operations and close collaboration with Bridgestone. Through our co-creation activities, we are pleased to have realised safer operations with enhanced productivity and economic value."
Jean-Philippe Minet, Managing Director of Bridgestone Aircraft Tyre (Europe) S.A., emphasised the broader potential of the approach: "By combining the learnings and insights from Ethiopian Airlines' operational issues with our analysis technology and know-how, we have deepened our co-creation to propose customised solutions. We are delighted to contribute to safe aircraft operations with peace of mind and to improved operational productivity through the co-creation of efficient FOD reduction on airport surfaces."
The initiative aligns with Bridgestone's corporate commitment, the "Bridgestone E8 Commitment," which emphasises maximising productivity through the advancement of mobility and maintaining innovation that keeps people and the world moving ahead.
Ethiopian Airlines Group and Bridgestone have confirmed they will continue to develop their co-creation activities, aiming to contribute to the broader development of the aviation industry and society as a whole.
Tagged with: aircraft tyres, FOD reduction, tyre retreading, Addis Ababa Bole, fleet maintenance, hazard mapping, tyre inspections, aviation operations, runway safety, data analytics
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