Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Procedure; Company Policy
After block in I dropped my ink pen; it bounced off my shoe and went through the large hole beneath the footrest.  The Airbus used to have black bristles that would prevent objects from entering the holes on each side of the footrest(s); they have been removed over the past few years.  The current large opening on each side of the footrests is large enough to fit your iPad through and could interfere with flight control linkages.
A320 Captain reported dropping a pen into a large hole beneath the footrest. The bristle seals have been removed exposing large opening.