A fly off transducer platform or carrier according to the invention comprises a platform for supporting at least one transducer for reading and writing from and onto a data carrier such as a magnetic disc which is driven past the transducer in a given direction and sense. The platform has on its face adjacent the data carrier at least one air gap carried by a skid whose major dimension is parallel to the said given direction. The front face of the said skid, with reference to the said sense of movement of the data carrier, forms a diverter blade to force any unwanted contaminant material to at least one side of the said skid and thus prevents this material from collecting at the air gap.