Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Airport; Company Policy; Human Factors
FOD (Foreign Object Debris) on the ground in the BWI back alley gates has been a problem for months with no signs of improvement. BWI Ground Operations does not have an effective FOD Awareness Program. We sat at the gate for nearly 90 minutes preparing for our flight. During the delay while waiting 50 minutes for five bags from Flight #XXXX (which never arrived); the ramp personnel had plenty of time to pick up the FOD in and around the Safety Zone. Excessive FOD was present before; during; and after the push off BWI Gate XX. No effort was made to remove the FOD. BWI Ramp Personnel walked by; stepped on; and ignored FOD all over the flight line. As we were being pushed back I asked the Ramp Crew to pick up FOD (papers; gloves; concrete gravel stones; plastic strapping material; etc.) to avoid ingesting FOD in the engines while we were starting engines. Because of the confined space in the back alley; the lead aircraft is more likely to blow FOD into the engines of the second aircraft. We called BWI Ground Control to remove FOD from the area at the top of the back alley where FOD had accumulated in the vicinity of the electric light control building. Also; the concrete along the vehicle road adjacent to the black storm drain grating is breaking up between BWI Gates XY and XZ. Chunks of concrete; stones; and gravel litter the ramp in this vicinity. The ramp looks as if it has been breaking up for weeks; but nobody has made the effort to remove the concrete FOD until BWI airport can make repairs.The BWI Station Manager needs to take responsibility for the FOD Awareness Program.  At this time; there is no evidence that BWI has an effective FOD Awareness Program.  Leadership for an effective FOD Awareness Program starts from the top.  Leaders need to train all employees to participate in the FOD Awareness Program on a daily basis and enforce compliance with the program.  The BWI FOD Awareness Program exists; at best; as a 'lip service' program. Bringing this issue to the attention of leadership falls on deaf ears. My impression is that BWI leadership; to the highest leadership levels; does not care to address or fix this ongoing problem. We need to collectively protect our engines from unnecessary damage resulting from FOD. BWI Airport Operations needs to repair the concrete breaking up near the vehicle road adjacent to the black storm drain grating between BWI Gates XY and XZ. In the meantime; Company BWI Ground Operations needs to take responsibility for removing the concrete debris. I immediately notified BWI OPS by radio of the FOD hazard. I am not sure of what action has been taken to remedy the safety concern.
Flight Crew taxiing aircraft encounter excessive Foreign Object Debris (FOD) in ramp area.