A method, apparatus, and assembly for removing a contaminant from an air
bearing of a hard disk drive head disk assembly is described. The method
and apparatus provide a foil directing an air flow within the head disk
assembly about a pad of the air bearing; re-directing the air flow
towards a trailing edge of the pad so that the airflow impinges the
trailing edge, thus dislodging and removing contaminants from the
trailing edge of the pad.