The paper analyzes traditional and innovative methods of detecting debris and cleaning runways, focusing on the advantages and disadvantages of manual, mechanized, and chemical cleaning. The advantages and disadvantages of manual, mechanized, and chemical cleaning are considered in detail. Particular attention is paid to using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as a promising solution to this problem. The research demonstrates that the use of UAVs can significantly increase the efficiency of cleaning due to the accuracy and speed of the operation, reduce risks for workers, and enable them to work in difficult conditions. The UAVs can be used as well as mobile platforms for sensors for debris detecting. In this paper, the simulation and results comparison of detection of foreign objects of different natures using a camera placed on a UAV are made. Mathematical models were analyzed to assess the effectiveness of different cleaning methods to choose the best method for specific conditions. The study confirmed the benefits of UAVs used for foreign object debris (FOD) detection and cleaning runways. The study is a promising direction for the development of aviation infrastructure. The analysis and simulation can be promising for the development of artificial intelligence for analyzing data on pollution and environmental conditions as well as the automatic selection of the optimal cleaning method, taking into account factors such as speed, cost, and environmental impact.