ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation (FIDO)

Have you ever seen fog outside? It's like a big cloud that sits on the ground and makes it hard to see. Sometimes this can be dangerous for airplanes because they need to see clearly to take off and land safely. That's where FIDO comes in!

FIDO stands for "Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation." It's a special team of people who are trained to help pilots during foggy weather. They work at airports and use special planes that make loud noises to break up the fog and make it easier to see.

Before they can do this, they need to know how bad the fog is. That's where the "investigation" part comes in. FIDO uses special tools and instruments to measure the thickness and height of the fog. They also use cameras and radar to see where the fog is and how it's moving.

Once they know how bad the fog is, they can start the "dispersal" part of their job. This means they use a special plane that flies over the runway and drops particles that cause the fog to break up. The plane also makes a lot of noise to help break up the fog even more.

All of this helps pilots see better and land safely. So, if you ever see a FIDO plane flying over an airport, you'll know they're working hard to help keep everyone safe in foggy weather!