OOL Disembarking Ramp?

[QFflyermelbourne]

Flew into OOL this evening and they have acquired a ridiculous monstrosity for disembarking sometime in the last month. Similar to the ramp bridges trialled in Tassie at one stage (not sure if they still have them). Plastered with Qantas logos, certainly better for elderly folks and will keep you drier for longer on rainy days.

Surprised it hasn't been mentioned here yet, anyone know when it turned up? Wasn't able to get a photo sorry...

 

[Meggsy]

Been there a while now. Through memory it arrived either late last year or early this year. Silly thing is they don't use it for every QF flight.

 

[snabbu]

I also saw this the other week for the first time. Only used on the front left exit and pax wishing to use it from the rear 1/2 of the plane were asked to wait till the others from the rear had disembarked before moving up to the front left exit.

Great thing about the ramp is it allows for a great close up pic of the nose as you deplane

 

[RichardMEL]

Been around since last year. It's at gate 4 I think on a permanent basis.

I think it's great and much better than the steps it replaces..

1. It's a ramp so much easier for wheelchair and pax who find navigating stars difficult (eg: older people)

2. it's covered, so much nicer when getting off the aircraft in the rain (not much help if the rain is blowing in from the side, but that's life)

3. I think it's safer for everyone.

I for one was happy to see and use it a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Red Roo]

It’s called the “Mega Ramp”, and since it's launch on 11 September 2015, is proving to be a hit with our customers on the Gold Coast!

I agree; not the prettiest piece of equipment on the tarmac. However it has improved customer safety, zero minute performance, and is a game changer for our customers with specific needs.

The Mega Ramp is a great innovation for airports where there is no aerobridge, and provides step free access to our Boeing 737 fleet.

Although similar ramps are now a familiar sight for Dash 8 and B717 operations, it’s an Australian first for the B737.

Here are some pics of the Mega Ramp with “ Mendoowoorrji”.

 

[docjames]

Wow, impressive size (compared in that lower shot with the rear stairs!).

A good innovation for pax needing easier boarding/deplaning and undoubtedly cheaper than aerobridges!

Are able-bodied pax allowed to use the staircase at the right hand end of this device, or do they all have to use the ramp?

 

[samh004]

It’s called the “Mega Ramp”, and since it's launch on 11 September 2015, is proving to be a hit with our customers on the Gold Coast!

I agree; not the prettiest piece of equipment on the tarmac. However it has improved customer safety, zero minute performance, and is a game changer for our customers with specific needs.

Thanks for the photos, I was hoping someone would have some! Not seen it at all before... and not flying out of OOL again until December!

Are able-bodied pax allowed to use the staircase at the right hand end of this device, or do they all have to use the ramp?

I would hope so, but then you might be accused of queue jumping all those snaking up the ramp

 

[JessicaTam]

Thanks for the photos, I was hoping someone would have some! Not seen it at all before... and not flying out of OOL again until December!



I would hope so, but then you might be accused of queue jumping all those snaking up the ramp

I was thinking of the steps for getting past the slow-pokes whilst disembarking.

 

[RB]

Not a great photo but these are the ones at PQQ. It must not rain as much as it does at OOL

 

[banger2]

Not a great photo but these are the ones at PQQ. It must not rain as much as it does at OOL

View attachment 57178

Difficult to tell from that photo, but is the ramp moveable? Just wondering how the aircraft gets "around" the ramp....

 

[RB]

Difficult to tell from that photo, but is the ramp moveable? Just wondering how the aircraft gets "around" the ramp....

Yep moved away manually

 

[pauly7]

It's actually much faster to get passengers off I have discovered. Small kids, older folk, women in high heels, people with bung legs etc rightfully cling to the barriers on the stairs and slow everything down to a crawl. The ramps stream everyone off much more quickly IMHO.

 

[Altair]

Reminds me of when I first visited Hamilton (HLZ) when they had a single airbridge and it was used for ATR flights. It took ages to line up and was not faster as you went upstairs in the terminal then downstairs to reclaim/exit.
Anyway OOL on the redevelopment plans clearly stated that they were not going to introduce airbridges due to the single storey terminal they have.

 

[wanderer_au]

Any chance they will come to CBR, Red Roo? Lots of Dash 8 SYD-CBR traffic as you know- even with inclement CBR weather....

 

[DC3]

I hope the functionality is superior to the asthetics. Very similar to a cattle race.

 

[pauly7]

I hope the functionality is superior to the asthetics. Very similar to a cattle race.

It is surprisingly efficient!! Agree looks ugly though.

 

[RB]

I hope the functionality is superior to the asthetics. Very similar to a cattle race.

The one at PQQ seems to make it easier to deal with wheelchairs so hopefully that will help improve on time performance-not that the delays are all caused by the wheelchairs

 

[GuiltyBoomerang]

Will be flying to OOL as part of a status run later today - here's to hoping I get on the ramp!

 

[snabbu]

Each of the 3 arrivals into OOL have been using the ramp so you should be in luck!

 

[GuiltyBoomerang]

Each of the 3 arrivals into OOL have been using the ramp so you should be in luck!

Arrived at OOL just as it started raining...then boarded the same plane 40 minutes when it was pouring! It does keep you dry...though I feel for the people who had to walk to the back door with no ramp....