- The word “jetway” is sometimes used for a high-altitude airway.
| Jet bridge | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Jetways at Denver International Airport | |
| Ancestor: | none |
| Related: | Loading bridge, Aerobridge/Airbridge |
| Descendant: | None |
| Carries: | Pedestrians |
| Span range: | 40'-140' |
| Material: | Steel |
| Movable: | Yes |
| Design effort: | Low |
| Falsework required: | No |
A jet bridge (also termed jetway, loading bridge, aerobridge/airbridge, or passenger boarding bridge) is an enclosed, movable connector which extends from an airport terminal gate to an airplane, thereby enabling passengers to board and disembark without having to go outside. It is a type of movable bridge Jetway is a registered trademark of FMC Technologies, Inc.; however, it is often used in North American parlence to refer generically to any bridge used to board an aircraft, regardless of manufacturer. Prior to the introduction of jet bridges, passengers would normally board an aircraft by walking along the ground-level tarmac and climbing a set of movable stairs, or by descending airstairs, in aircraft so equipped. Airstairs are rarely used today, but mobile staircases are still employed at many airports around the world, particularly at small regional airports that only service small carriers. The first Jetway in the United States was installed at San Francisco International Airport in July 1959.
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Advantages
Loading bridges provide all weather dry access to aircraft and enhance the security of terminal operations. They are often permanently attached at one end by a pivot (or rotunda) to the terminal building and have the ability to swing left or right. The cab, located at the end of the loading bridge, may be raised or lowered, extended or retracted, and may pivot, in order to accommodate aircraft of different sizes. These motions are controlled by an operator's station in the cab. The cab is provided with an accordion-like canopy, which allows the bridge to dock with aircraft with differing contours, and provide a nearly weather-proof seal. Some airports with international gates, such as Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, and Incheon International Airport have two bridges for larger aircraft with multiple entrances. In theory, this allows for faster boarding and disembarking of larger aircraft, though it's quite common to use one bridge for only passengers in first class and business class, while the other bridge is only for the use of passengers in economy class. With the arrival of the full double-deck airliners such as the Airbus A380, it is expected that each deck will have one or more loading bridges. Such connectors are being constructed at Singapore Changi Airport in anticipation of the A380. Though loading bridges are usually permanently attached at their terminal-building end, leaving only the cab free to move, this is not always the case. Those at Melbourne Airport's international terminal are anchored in the middle and movable at either end – the terminal building-end can be raised or lowered to connect with either the departures level or the arrivals level of the terminal building.
Disadvantages
Loading bridges restrict aircraft parking to spots immediately adjacent to the terminal. Thus, some airports such as Bristol International Airport still use mobile staircases to facilitate boarding at hardstands (remote parking positions).
Use and appearance
At the airport terminal, the bridge is connected to a portal (called a "gate") in the terminal wall behind the gate desk. Once airplane boarding starts, passengers hand in their boarding passes to the gate's attendant, who lets them pass through. Inside, the bridge looks much like a narrow but lighted hallway in an office building, without doors. Some loading bridges are constructed without windows, while brands such as ThyssenKrupp produces some models with glass walls. The walls are normally painted in accordance with airline standards, generally with relaxing colors. Combined with the carpeted flooring, these colors help to create a soothing, calm environment to relax and decrease the tension that any passengers might feel about their upcoming flight. Some bridges have advertisements on interior or exterior walls. By using a retractable tunnel design, loading bridges may retract and extend varying lengths. The largest 3-tunnel model of Jetway's loading bridges, for example, may retract to 60 feet and extend to 126 feet (rotunda to cab). Some airports use fixed walkways to effectively extend the reach of a loading bridge. The fixed walkway extends out from the terminal building and connects to the loading bridge rotunda. Occasionally, fixed bridges lead to multiple loading bridges. The cab of the loading bridge is hydraulically raised and lowered in order to dock with aircraft of differing sill heights. The height of the cab is matched to the height of the aircraft door sill height. This often results in a slope along the length of the loading bridge. For this reason, handrails are frequently provided along the interior of the bridge. In the United States, loading bridge slopes are restricted to a maximum slope of 1:12, in order to comply with ADA requirements.
 Interior view of a typical jetway |
 A short fixed bridge connected to a loading bridge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport |
 Vacant glass walled jetway at Incheon Airport |
 Vacant glass walled jetway at Houari Boumedienne Airport |
 Inside the glass walled jetway |
 Glass walled jetways at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport |
 Loading bridge at Vancouver International Airport |
References
See also
- Airstair
- Moveable bridge for a list of other movable bridge types
- Covered bridge
