ArgosAI, an Istanbul company, uses deep-learning image recognition to spot foreign object debris on runways and aprons without closing them for inspection.
Founded in 2015 with 11 to 50 staff and origins in Ankara's METU Teknokent, it makes the A-FOD runway system, A-FOD APRON stand surveillance and A-PASS for runway inspections. It has been backed by a Turkish Development Agency grant and an EU SME Instrument project.
Alanya Gazipasa (GZP) has used A-FOD since 2020, and Istanbul (IST) has sensor stations on runway 18-36. Use at London Gatwick (LGW) and Rome Fiumicino (FCO) was reported by Sifted in July 2024 without detail on scope. No dated news since 2024 was found.
Aviation AI deployments and updates
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ArgosAI A-FOD foreign-object-debris detection, runway 18-36 at Istanbul Airport
ArgosAI, a Turkish company, has sensor stations for its A-FOD foreign-object-debris detection system installed on runway 18-36 at Istanbul Airport. The company says it showed them to members of ACI's technical and safety committees during an airside visit linked to the 43rd ACI TOSC meeting, in a 2022 item on its announcements page.
ArgosAI describes A-FOD as its own image-recognition system, built with deep neural networks, for spotting debris on the runway surface in any weather. The system watches the runway from the sensor stations and is meant to alert the airport to objects that could damage aircraft.
The sources are ArgosAI's own pages. Detection rates, the number of stations and whether the system now covers other runways at Istanbul had not been published as of 16 October 2026.
Installation of ArgosAI's A-FOD system for detecting foreign object debris was almost finished at Alanya-Gazipaşa International Airport, covering a 300-metre section of the runway, the company said in February 2018.
AI and computer vision-based Foreign Object Debris detection system that continuously monitors runway, taxiway, and apron surfaces in real time, detecting objects as small as 3 cm squared and generating instant location alerts with high-resolution imagery.
The problem it addresses
Manual FOD inspections require closing runways and deploying personnel, creating operational disruption and risk of missed debris that can cause aircraft damage and flight delays.
Key features
Continuous 24/7 real-time detection
Near-zero false alarm rate
Precise location and size data for each FOD event
High-resolution image and live video of detected object
4 more features
Compatible with complex surfaces including stands and aprons via contextual AI recognition of vehicles, personnel, and aircraft
Pavement management module
Snow and ice management module
Wildlife management module
Technical specifications (3)
Electro-optical sensor array
Deep machine learning algorithms continuously trained
Real-time image analysis pipeline
Verified deployments
Istanbul Airport (IST) – ArgosAI A-FOD foreign-object-debris detection, runway 18-36 at Istanbul AirportAlanya Gazipasa (GZP) – ArgosAI A-FOD runway debris detection on a 300-metre section at Alanya-Gazipaşa
Configurable remote sensing and inspection system providing continuous visual surveillance of airside surfaces, accessible via mobile devices or control rooms, supporting both millimeter-level detail and wide-area overview.
The problem it addresses
On-site visual inspections require personnel on active airside surfaces, creating safety risks and operational complexity.
Key features
24/7 continuous remote surveillance
Flexible configuration for different surface types
Preventive Airside Supervision System combining all ArgosAI AI modules into a single platform, enabling all ICAO-defined surface inspections to be performed remotely without closing the runway or requiring on-site personnel.
The problem it addresses
ICAO-mandated runway inspections typically require runway closures and physical personnel presence, reducing capacity and increasing operational risk.
Key features
Remote execution of all ICAO-defined surface inspections
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