Two Companies Team Up To Build World's First Automatic Passenger Boarding Bridge

ThyssenKrupp Airport Systems Inc. and Indal Technologies Inc. have combined the latest in bridge and automation technologies to field the world's first fully automated passenger boarding bridge.

Following ThyssenKrupp's win of the new terminal projects in Toronto for over 75 bridges, Indal Technologies integrated their innovative Automated Passenger Bridge solution with a ThyssenKrupp apron drive bridge at the infield terminal. Now, with the simple push of a button, all functions of bridge deployment and retraction are initiated.

For over 40 years, Indal Technologies' systems have facilitated the landing of naval helicopters onto the decks of small ships in rough seas and extreme weather - even at night. The same technology used by these high-performance systems has now been transferred to fully automate the passenger boarding bridge functions for commercial airlines.

"With Indal's APB solution being a direct technology transfer from a proven naval application, we are quite impressed," stated Vince Ballisty, president of ThyssenKrupp Airport Systems. "This could very well prove to be the truly automated solution that the marketplace has desired for quite some time."

Utilizing a camera and infrared light source to illuminate a small pattern of reflective markings on the aircraft, the APB system actually sees the exact location of the door and deploys a single, dual, or, in the case of the A380, triple bridge with an accuracy of two centimeters. The system eliminates the need for trained operators, eliminates damage to aircraft and bridges, and it improves customer satisfaction with a consistent, efficient and swifter deplaning process.

In partnership with Air Canada - and supporting their initiatives to introduce new technologies to improve business processes - the APB system is currently undergoing operational trials with both B767 and A321 aircraft. Compatible with virtually any size aircraft, the Indal Technologies APB system can be specified for new bridges or easily retrofitted on existing units.

An Indal Technologies representative will be in attendance with the ThyssenKrupp team at the ACI-NA Conference and Exhibition in Houston, September 19 - 22, to further discuss the Toronto Automated Bridge Project.

FMI: www.indal.com