In an airport environment a foreign object is any object present in an inappropriate location that has the capacity to injure airport or airline personnel and damage aircraft. The letters FOD stand for Foreign Object Debris, or Foreign Object Damage. In the ASMP FOD is debris, present on aprons, taxiways, or runways, although FOD can originate from all airport operations areas. The presence of FOD on airport surfaces poses a significant threat to the safety of air travel. FOD has the potential to damage aircraft during critical phases of flight, which can lead to catastrophic loss of life and the airframe, or increased maintenance and operating costs. Costs to the industry are now estimated to be in excess of $1-2 billion per year for direct costs and as much as $12 billion when indirect costs are considered. FOD hazards can be reduced, however, by the establishment of an active FOD management program operating in a modern safety management culture.