Sat, Sep 09, 2006
United Makes It Easier To Board
As remarkable as it
sounds, someone is actually trying to make it easier to fly! United
Airlines declared operational a new type boarding bridge at five
gates in their terminal in Denver Thursday.
The "DoubleDocker Bridge" allows passengers to load or unload
through two doors at once, and should ease one of the biggest
annoyances associated with commercial air travel -- at least for
those sitting the back - loading and unloading.
Jim Kyte, general manager of United's Denver operations told the
Chicago Tribune "We are refining our processes so planes can be in
the air flying, being productive versus sitting at the gate being
grounded."
Designed and manufactured by Dewbridge Airport Systems of
Ogdensburg, New York, the bridges are y-shaped, with one arm
arching over the wing to the rear door. While an earlier version of
the system is in use in Canada, this is the first fully-automated
system.
Many international flyers know that using two doors isn't a new
concept -- they've been doing it for years overseas. The difference
is that at most of those overseas locations you walk outside to get
from the plane to the terminal, often using steep and rickety
stairs to get on and off the jet. DoubleDocker keeps everyone
safely indoors away from the elements -- and no stairs.
The five gates at concourse B in Denver equipped with the
DoubleDocker serve Ted, United's spin-off low-cost carrier. For
now, only Ted customers will enjoy the benefits -- it seems the
DoubleDocker works only with narrow-body aircraft.
Still, anything that makes commercial aviation more enjoyable
(or less annoying) is good in our opinion!
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