Aviramp offers alternative to conventional stairs
Aviramp, the Shropshire, UK-based manufacturer of aircraft boarding ramps and mobile jet bridges, continues to expand its product offering. Launched in January 2011, Aviramp is now in full production of its second-generation answer to the problem of handling ‘passengers with reduced mobility’ (PRMs), a solution it says is especially applicable to smaller airports that can’t afford conventional ‘ambulift’ or ‘passenger aid unit’ vehicles.
Aviramp is now available in five different models that cater for aircraft ranging in size from the ATR42 to the B777. The equipment makes use of gently sloping ramps which the company says can “easily, safely and comfortably” handle wheelchairs and even catering trolleys if required, while simply being more convenient for elderly passengers or those with babies or toddlers.
Aviramp’s portable step can be folded up and carried within the cargo hold of an aircraft, while the company’s latest ‘Lite’ model – made from lightweight aluminium and galvanised steel, and easily moved around an airport by hand – has also been in demand and has been recently stationed at the UK’s Exeter airport for trial. An Aviramp is already in use at Réunion airport, as is one at Perpignan in the south of France (and the gateway has another on order).
Furthermore, Kansai International airport in Japan and Dallas/Fort Worth in the US have units on order, while Australia’s QantasLink has five Aviramp Lite models and the hope is that a significant contract can be agreed with the carrier in the near future.
According to Stéphane Courtois, ground handling manager at Saint-Pierre Pierrefonds International airport on Réunion island: “Two years ago, we decided to acquire new stairs. As feedback from PRMs was not good about the previous stairs, we decided to look for an ambulift. We finally decided to buy the new Aviramp, which answered to our needs.
“We have been very happy with it and customer feedback is also very good. We discovered that this kind of equipment is useful for all kinds of passengers – ones with wheeled hand luggage, ones with children and even passengers who would slow down on the stairs. Disembarking and boarding go a lot faster now,” Courtois notes. “We are so happy with the product that we are thinking of buying the Lite model for the ATR72s we handle.”
Mallaghan hands over latest de-icer to Stobart
On 5 December last year, Northern Ireland-based GSE manufacturer Mallaghan delivered ‘Cand-ice’, an aircraft de-icing rig, to Stobart Air at London’s Southend airport. Cand-ice is the sixth piece of equipment manufactured by Mallaghan to go into operation at the airport.
Each Eddie Stobart truck is identified by a unique girl’s name. The first Eddie Stobart truck was named ‘Twiggy’ by Edward Stobart, after the 1960’s supermodel, and the new Mallaghan de-icer has been given the very apt ‘Cand-ice’ moniker.
Stobart Air is the operator of London Southend, the capital’s newest international airport. The Stobart Group purchased its lease in December 2008 and since then the gateway has undergone huge redevelopment; it is expected to see further substantial growth in the coming years. As part of Stobart Group’s redevelopment, a new passenger terminal has already been built.
Goldhofer acquires Schopf
Two of the big names in airport GSE have come together. At the beginning of this year, Germany’s Goldhofer – a well-known supplier of equipment for various airport applications – acquired the Stuttgart-based Schopf Group.
According to Stefan Fuchs, Goldhofer CEO: “Goldhofer and Schopf are the perfect combination for quality ground support equipment for airports worldwide from a ‘made in Germany’ double. In future we will be able to offer this market one-stop shopping, and that will make us even more attractive for our customers and enable us to cater even more for their specific needs.”
Hermann Brüggemann, hitherto majority shareholder and managing director of the Schopf Group, commented upon the inking of the deal: “Goldhofer was definitely our ideal choice of partner; it is a traditional medium-sized organisation from the region that has the same values as Schopf.”
