February 5th, 2007, 06:11
More problems at new airport
Passenger boarding bridges need repairs
AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK
Suvarnabhumi airport has another flaw _ 11 passenger boarding bridges are damaged, two of them seriously, according to a source at Airports of Thailand (AoT). Officials are looking into the cause of the problem, but cannot yet say whether it is due to substandard steel, improper installation of the airbridges or the failure of staff of Thai Airports Ground Services Co (Tags) to operate the moveable bridges properly.
Two boarding bridges were seriously damaged and the others would need minor repairs, the source said.
The bridges at gates D5 and F1 must be closed due to the serious nature of the damage and their walls must be replaced. The bridges at gates G5, G3, F5, D6, C7 and B4 are slightly damaged but still usable.
Suvarnabhumi has 51 gates and 105 passenger boarding bridges. The bridges were built by ITO Joint Venture, which is the airport contractor, and AoT contracts Tags to operate them.
The AoT had informed ITO and the company promised to repair them in a week, the source said.
An ITO source said operators compounded the damage as they continued to use the airbridges despite problems with the moveable mechanisms.
The ITO source insisted the steel used to build the airbridges met specifications and could withstand 520 kilogrammes per square metre.
Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um became aware of the problem during his visit to the airport last week and ordered quick repairs to minimise any impact on passengers.
Former Suvarnabhumi airport director Somchai Sawasdeepol attributed the problem to the moveable mechanisms of the boarding bridges' extendable tunnels.
A passenger boarding bridge consists of three extendable and retractable tunnels. The moveable mechanisms, especially the wheels and rails, might have been packed too tightly and operating them might have cracked the bridges, especially the middle tunnel. Those cracks finally rust due to oxidation.
According to the source, AoT informed ITO of the problem late in December and officially asked the company to repair the bridges on Jan 22.
ITO proposed checking all passenger boarding bridges and to later check them every three to six months to ensure their smooth operation.
Apart from problems with the passenger boarding bridges, the four-month-old Suvarnabhumi airport has cracked runways as well as cracked and uneven taxiways.
The premature damage will probably result in some domestic flights being moved back to Don Muang airport. The Transport Ministry's recommendation will be tabled for cabinet approval tomorrow.
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Bangkok Post, Feb 05, 2007
Passenger boarding bridges need repairs
AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK
Suvarnabhumi airport has another flaw _ 11 passenger boarding bridges are damaged, two of them seriously, according to a source at Airports of Thailand (AoT). Officials are looking into the cause of the problem, but cannot yet say whether it is due to substandard steel, improper installation of the airbridges or the failure of staff of Thai Airports Ground Services Co (Tags) to operate the moveable bridges properly.
Two boarding bridges were seriously damaged and the others would need minor repairs, the source said.
The bridges at gates D5 and F1 must be closed due to the serious nature of the damage and their walls must be replaced. The bridges at gates G5, G3, F5, D6, C7 and B4 are slightly damaged but still usable.
Suvarnabhumi has 51 gates and 105 passenger boarding bridges. The bridges were built by ITO Joint Venture, which is the airport contractor, and AoT contracts Tags to operate them.
The AoT had informed ITO and the company promised to repair them in a week, the source said.
An ITO source said operators compounded the damage as they continued to use the airbridges despite problems with the moveable mechanisms.
The ITO source insisted the steel used to build the airbridges met specifications and could withstand 520 kilogrammes per square metre.
Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um became aware of the problem during his visit to the airport last week and ordered quick repairs to minimise any impact on passengers.
Former Suvarnabhumi airport director Somchai Sawasdeepol attributed the problem to the moveable mechanisms of the boarding bridges' extendable tunnels.
A passenger boarding bridge consists of three extendable and retractable tunnels. The moveable mechanisms, especially the wheels and rails, might have been packed too tightly and operating them might have cracked the bridges, especially the middle tunnel. Those cracks finally rust due to oxidation.
According to the source, AoT informed ITO of the problem late in December and officially asked the company to repair the bridges on Jan 22.
ITO proposed checking all passenger boarding bridges and to later check them every three to six months to ensure their smooth operation.
Apart from problems with the passenger boarding bridges, the four-month-old Suvarnabhumi airport has cracked runways as well as cracked and uneven taxiways.
The premature damage will probably result in some domestic flights being moved back to Don Muang airport. The Transport Ministry's recommendation will be tabled for cabinet approval tomorrow.
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Bangkok Post, Feb 05, 2007