Benefits

Reduce Ambulift Overhead

An extremely cost effective jetbridge on virtually any stand offers a huge number of benefits for the Airport, Airline, Passenger & PRM handler.

Now its possiible to alleviate the need for Ambulift

Savings can be made of up to £159,000 over 15 years

Passengers

For PRM's dignified boarding with all other passengers

For passengers with reduced mobility and those confined to a wheelchair, Aviramp offers a new and dignified method of boarding aircraft. In particular, providing the opportunity for these people to board with their families and all other passengers and the ability to stay in their own wheelchairs from car park to aircraft, instead of being separated and treated differently.

The UK CAA carried out a survey amongst PRM passengers in 2009 and one of the main conclusions was that PRM's did not want to be treated differently while boarding and disembarking aircraft. The report can be seen here CAA report on the requirements of PRM's boarding aircraft see page 3.2.4 and the bar chart

Here is a short video of Aviramp launch day UK television highlights at RAF Cosford iin January 2011- it shows 72 year old Brian demonstrating the gentle slopes of the unit by wheeling himself up and down in a wheelchair .

Passengers are more confident walking straight up a ramp rather than climbing steep stairs

^{Passenger feedback has been excellent, with most finding the boarding experience a pleasure to use rather than a stressful ordeal with the mountainous climb up stairs or the problems associated with high lifts.}

This passenger confidence also allows ' much ' quicker boarding, hence quicker turnarounds, hence a more efficient airport which in turn gives the airlines confidence and hopefully attract more traffic.

Children board safely rather than risk falling down stairs or through open side rails

For families, children are safe to walk up and down the ramp unassisted. The solid sides also stop chidren falling through.

Parents carrying small children in their arms have virtually no risk of tripping and falling

Where parents are carrying small children, Aviramp offers a sure-footed safe walkway, reducing the risk of falls and accidents down stairs.

Gentle 8 degree slopes suitable for elderly passengers

Elderley or infirm passengers can also board with confidence as Aviramp offers an aircraft boarding experience similar to their everyday activities in most public facilities, where they do not use stairs and prefer using ramps.

Generally, many passengers feel intimidated by the steep climb or decent of traditional air-stairs and now thanks to Aviramp, they can feel secure and board aircraft with confidence that in turn, speeds up the boarding process.

Aviramp suits all IATA coded PRM`s including WCHS/WCHC passengers.

Handling Agents and Airports

Release locked capital in expensive PRM equipment

For handling agents and airports, the combined all-purpose unit alleviates the need for costly ambulifts and scissor lifts, therefore allowing for the release of capital locked in expensive equipment.

Aviramp's costs are similar to those of traditional air-stairs and the ramps are also suitable for alternative uses, such as loading catering bars on-board, which are easily manoeuvred up and down an Aviramp in compliance with health and safety guidelines.

One man operational capability

Cost savings due to one man operation capability (see video here )

Very little annual maintenace costs

Aviramp has extremely low operational costs that eliminates the huge annual maintenance and service costs associated with high lifts and existing ground equipment.

As an example of cost savings over a 15 year period using Aviramp Continental in purely mechanical terms (£ GBP)

Unit Purchase cost Average annual maintenance cost Total cost

Ambulift £130,000 £4,500 £197,500

Aviramp Continental £34,500 £250 £38250

Total cost saving £159,250

For the cost of one Ambulift it is possible to have a Jet Bridge on every stand and still save money

One point of loading passengers

Aviramp alleviates the possibility of the fuel tanker being blocked in on the Galley door side by a hi-lift as all passengers are boarded from one side of the aircraft.

Attractive rates for Airlines to operate from your airport

Lower turnaround costs will attract airlines. While we understand revenue is gained at many airports for use of Ambulift, smaller charges for using Aviramp will entice airlines and this smaller charge will not have the maintenace cost of Ambulift built in - and above all the aircraft will not be waiting for Ambulift

Sponsor revenue

Aviramp side panels offer the perfect opportunity for sponsorship or advertising opportunities.

Less chance of passenger injury and safe orderly queing

There is less chance of passengers getting injured through falls and therefore less chance of injury claims. Aviramp free boarding capability allows queuing on the unit itserlf rather than across the tarmac.

Less chance of Aircraft Damage

Larger Aviramp's used as a Jet Bridge being left on-stand completly relieves the chance of aircraft damage through less movement around the airport.

General feedback from ground handlers and airports

Reunion Islands ground handling manager Stéphane COURTOIS comments

`This unit is ideal for small airports like ours, but also for nose-out stands in big airports.

The unit and the engine are very basic (which is a good point with no electronic devices), which leads to a very simple maintenance.

We noticed a great improvement in disembarking times. Elderly people, children and pax with big hand luggage do not reduce the flow anymore as there is no more step. They feel more confident. For the boarding, as there is no pax limitation on the ramp, we do not have passengers waiting on the tarmac anymore, which is good for safety. The floor is not slippery even with rain, which is very important.

Of course, PRM are very satisfied as they do not feel discriminated anymore.

We are very satisfied and even think of buying one for ATR aircraft.`

Airlines

Decreased passenger flow times

Decreased passenger flow times when boarding and disembarking has its obvious benfits when speedy turnaround times are essential. Official trials show Aviramp can decrease this time by up to 40%

This is due to many reasons including :

PAX who are intimidated by the steepness of stairs can walk free and easy in a comfortable solid walkway

PAX do not have to stop at the bottom of stairs to fold luggage handles etc

PAX are not held up by children or people carrying children

Documented trials carried out by Easyjet using Aviramp on one stand and comparing it to stairs and Ambulift on the next stand resulted in the following

Aviramp onload 3.35 seconds per PAX

Aviramp offload 3.78 seconds per PAX

Conventional steps onload 6.11 seconds per PAX

Conventianal steps offload 4.15 seconds per PAX

Onload time saving of 200 PAX = 9.2 minutes

Offload time saving 200 PAX = 1.2 minutes

On a full flight time savings of over 10 minutes on passenger flow can be made.

Satisfied passengers

In general passengers have given Aviramp a very positive response, even down to the very first day of trials in early 2011 and the very first passenger to use an Aviramp on an arrival aircraft. The lady was a PRM and the airport had arranged Ambulift. She commented " on seeing the ramp I did not require the lift so told them to send it back " she walked happily down the ramp.

The very first passenger on the outbound flight that day was a PRM lady who had a wheelchair waiting to assist her up the ramp. Again she commented " I do not need a wheelchair I can walk up this ramp " and she and her husband boarded the aircraft with dignity.

Delays and cancellations

Aviramp jet bridge can be readily available on any stand, therefore alleviating the need for Ambulifts which could be being used elsewhere. This in turn ensures on target performace ( OTP ) is enhanced dramatically particularly as it also enhances passenger flow time.

In turn this will virtully elliminate delays through PRM boarding and disembarkation and also virtually eliminates the chance of cancellations due to pilots running out of hours through PRM delays.

Staff and crew who have used aviramp have commented as follows:

"...it appears passengers board quicker using Aviramp. This is possibly due to hand baggage being easily wheeled or carried up the ramp rather than having to place luggage down on the floor to fold away handles or struggle up stairs. Passengers have also been boarding quicker because they feel more secure walking up the ramp, as opposed to hesitantly climbing steep air-stairs."

The captain of a flight arrival in Liverpool commeted to our CEO and the handling agent :

"... congratulations on the design of this piece of equipment. The crew just commented on how quickly the passengers disembarked"

This is just a few of the benefits associated with Aviramp.

Aviramp® is a registered trademark. International Patent Pending nos. PCT/GB2011/050514 & GCC 17974/2011