better4me Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 United ditches double-ended jetway project The bridges cut the time to exit planes at DIA by nearly two-thirds, but one of them damaged a jetliner's wing. By Kelly Yamanouchi The Denver Post Article Launched: 10/31/2007 01:00:00 AM MDT United Airlines is giving up on a much-ballyhooed dual-end jet-bridge technology aimed at getting passengers on and off planes more quickly. The decision follows an investigation into a malfunction of one of the bridges earlier this year. United started testing the dual-end jet bridges on gates for its discount operation Ted at Denver International Airport last year. The bridges allowed passengers to get on and off flights at the front and back ends of an airplane at the same time. United said last year the bridges cut the boarding time for an Airbus A320 plane to 12 minutes from 18 minutes and cut the amount of time it took to exit the plane to 4.5 minutes from 12 minutes. The bridges were computer-guided and -driven, with sensors to locate where to dock. United had the bridges on five gates at DIA and had hoped to expand the program to other cities if it was successful. But in March, one of the new jet bridges malfunctioned and struck the wing of a United Boeing 757 at DIA as it was positioning to unload the plane. The part that malfunctioned was the rear bridge, which was supposed to travel over the wing to dock with the rear door. Nobody was injured, but the plane was damaged. United removed the section that failed and stopped using the over-the-wing part of the other four bridges. http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_7324922 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
better4me Posted November 2, 2007 Author Share Posted November 2, 2007 Is WS still using their dual bridges at YYC D41 and YVR A1-A3? Whenever I am going through YYC or YVR I notice the aft bridge is parked out of the way, is this normal operations? Also, any thoughts on when the bridges are or are not utilized? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadaEH Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 Lets hope YVR and WS follow United on this and get rid of them altogether. Last I heard the YYC bridge was to be removed and YVR has barely used theirs since Mavericks accident. Since they were installed they've been used probably 30% of the time. The rest of the time they're either broken and INOP, being "upgraded" (lot of good that's done), or sat idle because of safety concerns. Tear those things down. When they work passengers do get off quick but they inconvenience every other aspect of the operation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 They are a shitty design from stem to stern. Most of you probably know why I think this. Frickin' amateur show! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thebean Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 They are a shitty design from stem to stern. Most of you probably know why I think this. Frickin' amateur show! How's the gammy leg? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fido Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 These things never did make sense for narrow-body aircraft. Passenger onload and offload was never the critical part of a turn around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canus Chinookus Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 I just don't understand why a CSA couldn't drive the back part of the bridge manually to the rear door.... I mean, honestly, we all know how frickin stupid computers are, at least let a human try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadaEH Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 By the time the CSA manually positions the bridge to the back the people will already be off the front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.O. Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 I've always wondered why they weren't designed to stow underground and pop up from behind the wing. I know it would cost alot more but if the time it saves is that important, it should be worth it. Otherwise, I agree with Mav, get rid of the stupid things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 How's the gammy leg? I'm back to work as of today albeit a reduced schedule. It's coming along but it'll be a long while yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thebean Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 I'm back to work as of today albeit a reduced schedule. It's coming along but it'll be a long while yet. Well done. I've always found a good place to hide from the jetways is by standing directly in front or behind of those thingys that hang off the wings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canus Chinookus Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 By the time the CSA manually positions the bridge to the back the people will already be off the front. except that where the aft jetway really makes a difference, as I understand it, is for boarding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 Well done. I've always found a good place to hide from the jetways is by standing directly in front or behind of those thingys that hang off the wings. I'll bear that in mind but if any of those POS DEW bridges get their tires slashed it wasn't me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fido Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 except that where the aft jetway really makes a difference, as I understand it, is for boarding. Speed up the boarding so that everyone can sit together and sing Koom-bye-yah while the boys finish loading the bags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canus Chinookus Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 GOOD POINT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chockalicious Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 except that where the aft jetway really makes a difference, as I understand it, is for boarding. The feedback on it was that guests loved it for the offload. They were off in half the time and on their way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rattler Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 The feedback on it was that guests loved it for the offload. They were off in half the time and on their way. So were the bags at the carousel when they got there to pick them up or was there the usual wait? I love to watch people pushing ahead to get off the aircraft fast and then seeing them waiting at the carousel for their baggage when I complete my more leisurely disembarkation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
better4me Posted November 5, 2007 Author Share Posted November 5, 2007 The feedback on it was that guests loved it for the offload. They were off in half the time and on their way. That's the small problem with the dual bridges. The first 2/3 of the airplane doesn't really care as they use the front entrance and the use of the aft door does not affect them. The next fews rows are slightly confused as to which way to deplane but not enough to "hate" the concept. The last rows loved the aft bridge as it got them on their way faster. These pax do not relate the increased waiting time for bags because they got out of the airplane faster. Finally, the pax do not realise the overall time savings are a matter of 1-4 minutes on average. When your standing in line waiting for the forward pax to clear, 5 minutes is a long time. When your rushing to the next gate, 5 minutes just not enough. What we really should be asking is.... What is the price (in dollars and ground support issues) to pay for giving about 4 rows of pax an extra minute in the offload process? The increased cost and hassle of the DEW dual bridges is not worth it, IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.