For those of you who frequently fly, you’ve undoubtedly walked through a jet bridge. It’s the passageway that ushers you from the boarding area to the plane. Although it may appear to be just a simple tunnel, the jet bridge is a remarkable airport innovation that significantly enhances the convenience and ease of air travel.
Jet bridges, officially termed as passenger boarding bridges (PBB), offer a seamless path from the airport terminal gate right up to the airplane. Essentially, these bridges are enclosed, movable structures that are equipped with wheels, and they are designed to improve the passenger experience.
Anatomizing the Structure
Resembling a giant mobile tunnel, a jet bridge has two distinct ends. The ‘pivot’ or the ‘rotunda’ is one end that is firmly attached to the terminal gate. This end is typically static and remains connected to a particular gate in the terminal wall. On the other end is the ‘cabin,’ a movable portion of the bridge that extends towards and connects with the airplane door. This ‘cabin’ is supported by wheels that help in its movement.
Located inside the ‘cabin’ is a control station, from where a crew member maneuvers the entire bridge. While older systems featured an array of individual motor control buttons, modern versions have simplified control panels with an LED screen and a multi-axis joystick, simplifying the whole process.
The Impetus Behind the Jet Bridges
Jet bridges came into existence with the primary purpose of facilitating an easier and comfortable access for passengers to the airplane. In the absence of such enclosed structures, passengers had to endure various elements, such as chilling weather, rain, or snow, while they walked across the apron – the place where planes park, and climbed movable stairs to board the airplane.
These enclosed bridges proved to be an efficient solution as passengers could now directly reach the plane from the terminal, without stepping outdoors. Another advantage offered by jet bridges was enhancing the safety of airport operations. With these bridges in place, passengers were kept off the apron, thereby preventing any interference with ground operations like refueling or cargo loading/unloading.
Moreover, jet bridges significantly increased security as compared to ramps and stairs. The enclosed design of the bridge ensures a secure connection between the terminal and the airplane, preventing unauthorized access.
Evolution of Jet Bridges Over Time
Jet bridges or passenger bridges first came into use around the late 1950s and early 1960s. The objective was to shelter passengers from weather elements and to make the boarding and disembarking processes more efficient. Prior to this, airlines employed several methods like movable walkways and telescopic canopies.
Telescopic canopies, introduced around the mid-1930s, provided some respite from the weather elements but were costly, and the steel rails used to maneuver them blocked parts of the apron, limiting the ground crew’s traffic flow. To address these issues, airlines around the early 1950s experimented with covered walkways, which were stationary and directly connected to the terminals.
However, the real breakthrough came when American Airlines introduced a movable, enclosed bridge, offering direct access from the terminal to the airplane. This innovation was so successful that by the 1970s, nearly all major airports in the United States had installed passenger bridges.
The Current Landscape of Jet Bridges
Despite the advantages, jet bridges are not universal fixtures at every terminal. Constraints like a limited number of terminal gates sometimes require airlines to park multiple jets at a time, leading to passengers embarking or disembarking on the ramp or apron. Also, single-story airports often use ramps, stairs, or lifts to connect passengers to the enclosed bridge.
Today, there are several types of bridges in use. The most popular is the mobile telescopic bridge (MTB), which is flexible and can be guided to the door of the airplane. Some airports employ split or dual bridges to connect one terminal to two airplanes or to connect to the front and rear doors of a single plane. For regions with extreme weather conditions, airlines might use a nose-loader bridge that offers a larger cabin and a better seal between the walkway and the door.
Hopefully, this information adds to your appreciation for jet bridges! Truthfully, jet bridges are particularly appreciated in countries like the Philippines, where they allow you to bypass the discomfort of transferring from the terminal to a bus and finally to the plane under the hot sun.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
