What is the purpose of the structure (the little building) in between the actual terminal building and the aircraft? I've seen other pics of these types of structures but have wondered what they are for.
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lhr380 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (1 year 6 months 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 3599 times:
Its called the node and has a number of different functions.
It connects the static bit of the jetty to the moving part, the bottom part contains a office for the TRM with a computer phone etc. The node also has an area for for BA staff and there is a lift to take bags and buggy's and wheelchairs from the gate level to be loaded onto the aircraft.
zanl188 From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 3244 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (1 year 6 months 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 3559 times:
Looks to me like it reduces the required length of the moving portion of the jet bridge, which in turn increase the number of gates and provides for the airside road between the aircraft and the building. Note the aircraft gates in the upper left and lower right that are not immediately adjacent to the aircraft.
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lhr380 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (1 year 6 months 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 3520 times:
Quoting srbmod (Reply 3): So these are essentially pillboxes on steroids? Makes the pillboxes at most of the gates at ATL look like closets, which they practically are.
Starlionblue From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2004, 15867 posts, RR: 66 Reply 9, posted (1 year 6 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 3397 times:
Quoting planejamie (Reply 6): Another question, why don't the windows face the aircraft you're due to fly on? Instead, they face the other jetbridge
You mean the windows on the terminal building itself on the same floor as the jetbridge? From memory, the departure area is actually on the top level (which has windows all over) and you take stairs down to the jetbridge to board. But my memory may be betraying me.
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kl5147 From Netherlands, joined Aug 2005, 301 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (1 year 6 months 19 hours ago) and read 3318 times:
Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 9): You mean the windows on the terminal building itself on the same floor as the jetbridge?
I think he refers to the jetbridges them-self. They have windows on one side only, and they do not face the plane you're boarding, but only allow a view to the next parking stand.
Starlionblue From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2004, 15867 posts, RR: 66 Reply 11, posted (1 year 6 months 19 hours ago) and read 3313 times:
Quoting kl5147 (Reply 10): Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 9):
You mean the windows on the terminal building itself on the same floor as the jetbridge?
I think he refers to the jetbridges them-self. They have windows on one side only, and they do not face the plane you're boarding, but only allow a view to the next parking stand.
Ah I see now. This is something only enthusiasts care about, and we're not the target market.
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speedbird9 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2008, 228 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (1 year 6 months 14 hours ago) and read 3253 times:
Quoting planejamie (Reply 6): Another question, why don't the windows face the aircraft you're due to fly on? Instead, they face the other jetbridge
Think about it where is the photo taken from? An aircraft!
Its probably to maximise advertising from aircraft taking off, taxing and landing
like this:
planejamie From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2011, 572 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (1 year 6 months 13 hours ago) and read 3238 times:
Quoting speedbird9 (Reply 12): they all point towards 27L/09R
any thoughts why?
Very good point but considering that HSBC is plastered all over LHR, it seems a bit silly to let them face the departing/arriving aircraft remembering that most people don't pay any attention to the ads and can barely read them from that distance! The inside part of those from memory is also covered in HSBC adverts as well...
Jetlagged From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2005, 2452 posts, RR: 17 Reply 14, posted (1 year 6 months 13 hours ago) and read 3237 times:
Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 11): Ah I see now. This is something only enthusiasts care about, and we're not the target market.
Actually it's somewhere for HSBC to put hang their adverts. Helps pay the bills. T5 satellites B and C are actually pretty good for visibility of aircraft and airport operation from the upper level gate area where you wait for flights. T5A somewhat less so.
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Cubsrule From United States of America, joined May 2004, 21214 posts, RR: 19 Reply 15, posted (1 year 6 months 13 hours ago) and read 3232 times:
Quoting PC12Fan (Reply 8): Cool, thanks guys. I even thought at one point it my have been something to do with customs. But there I go thinkin' too hard again.
That's not as outlandish as you suggest - it's exactly how DTW works.
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speedbird9 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2008, 228 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (1 year 6 months 12 hours ago) and read 3221 times:
Quoting planejamie (Reply 13):
Quoting speedbird9 (Reply 12):
they all point towards 27L/09R
any thoughts why?
Very good point but considering that HSBC is plastered all over LHR, it seems a bit silly to let them face the departing/arriving aircraft remembering that most people don't pay any attention to the ads and can barely read them from that distance! The inside part of those from memory is also covered in HSBC adverts as well...
I suppose a large Multinational Company like HSBC, one of the largest companies in the world will have their reasons
and maybe like Jetlagged said:
Quoting Jetlagged (Reply 14): Actually it's somewhere for HSBC to put hang their adverts. Helps pay the bills. T5 satellites B and C are actually pretty good for visibility of aircraft and airport operation from the upper level gate area where you wait for flights. T5A somewhat less so.
If its not advertising space its wasted space
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speedmarque From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2005, 677 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (1 year 5 months 4 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 3123 times:
Quoting lhr380 (Reply 7): Quoting planejamie (Reply 6):
I also presume that they allow for boarding by bus whilst another aircraft is on stand if it requires it?
Nope. T5 has dedicated coaching gates, you would not board via a stand that has a pier on it.
Yes actually. Sometimes the jetty breaks and pax walk down the first part of the jetway to the node, then down the stairs in the node, across the ramp and up stairs to the aircraft.
planejamie From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2011, 572 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (1 year 5 months 4 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 3019 times:
Quoting speedmarque (Reply 17): Yes actually. Sometimes the jetty breaks and pax walk down the first part of the jetway to the node, then down the stairs in the node, across the ramp and up stairs to the aircraft.
I've had to do this at Terminal 2 at MAN, but not that the jetway broke was that the AF A318 couldn't park between two heavies on one of the stands so while the jetbridge could be used, we had to board the bus at the bottom of a similar style of "node".
I wish Rome would have the same sort of thing, when I flew (ironically BA) to FCO in Summer 2010, we arrived at the gate and the jetbridge lost power so couldn't move to the aircraft... we were stuck on a nearly full A321 for 30 minutes and whilst I have nothing against Italians, they're not the most polite people at times like this and were basically pushing to the front so it wasn't pleasant...
Cubsrule From United States of America, joined May 2004, 21214 posts, RR: 19 Reply 19, posted (1 year 5 months 4 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 2940 times:
Quoting speedmarque (Reply 17): Sometimes the jetty breaks and pax walk down the first part of the jetway to the node, then down the stairs in the node, across the ramp and up stairs to the aircraft.
Does this happen a lot in Europe? It's quite rare in the States, so much so that there aren't really formal contingency plans to deal with it.
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planejamie From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2011, 572 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (1 year 5 months 4 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 2866 times:
Quoting Cubsrule (Reply 19): Does this happen a lot in Europe? It's quite rare in the States, so much so that there aren't really formal contingency plans to deal with it.
Not much in my experience except in Rome, but that could be anything! Then again, in the States you board ERJs and similar via jetbridges (plus most airports seem to have them!), so I guess it's rare to use the stairs!
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21460 posts, RR: 24 Reply 22, posted (1 year 5 months 4 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 2813 times:
Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 9): From memory, the departure area is actually on the top level (which has windows all over) and you take stairs down to the jetbridge to board.
Escalators, not stairs, at least at the T5 gates I've used. In fact LHR T5 seems to have more than it's share of escalators. You always seem to be going up and down escalators (some very long) as you make your way through the terminal. I can't think of many other airport terminals where you also have to use an escalator to board a flight from each gate.
acedriver From China, joined Nov 2011, 36 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 1916 times:
Quoting planejamie (Reply 6): Another question, why don't the windows face the aircraft you're due to fly on? Instead, they face the other jetbridge
As far as I can remember, there are no windows on the normal jetbridges at all, the windows are only available on 551, 558, 561 and 568 - that is, the four corner gates
darksnowynight From United States of America, joined Jan 2012, 979 posts, RR: 1 Reply 24, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 1903 times:
Looks to me like it reduces the required length of the moving portion of the jet bridge, which in turn increase the number of gates and provides for the airside road between the aircraft and the building.
We actually do the same thing here at DFW too. There is a fixed portion of the jetbridge that runs beneath skylink, and the swivels are all outboard of that. And beneath them in turn is the inner service road. Even now, I still get a little uncomfortable driving that road as it feels like a huge no-no, going beneath the peers like that (as it would be almost anywhere else).
Terminal D and some of the older portions of C & A where the skylink moves away from the gates do not have this, which often confuses the noobs further still...
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