The Bridge tab contains all settings, parameters and information regarding the bridge(s) used in the Stand session.

Settings

The first time a stand is defined, the Bridge tab initially shows the Settings tab (control on left side of dialog). These settings apply to all bridges:

Maximum allowable slope

Enter the maximum allowed bridge floor slope. By default, the regulation set in Settings is used. Switch to User-defined to enter a different value.

Docking distance below door sill

Enter the distance the bridge closure floor below the airplane door to which it connects. The default value is 0.15 meters or 0.5 feet.

Cabin center alignment

The position of the bridge cabin center when connected to the airplane door. For almost all airplanes the cabin center will be aligned with the door front (left side of the door opening seen from the bridge) so that the cabin covers both the door opening and the door itself (which is fixed to the left side of the door opening as seen from the bridge). For specific airplane types where the door opens to the inside or is outward downwards, the cabin center align 'Door center'.

MultiDock connections

When these checkboxes are selected, additional functionality in the 'Dock to' menus in the Airplane Parking table is activated. This functionality allows users to plan for multiple scenarios within a single session.

• Allow bridges to dock to multiple doors: A bridge is permitted to dock to multiple doors, e.g. Bridge1 can dock to doors L1 and L2;
• Allow doors to dock to multiple bridges: A door is permitted to dock to multiple bridges, e.g. door L1 can dock to Bridge1 and Bridge2.

Add bridge

Click the Add Bridge  button to add a passenger boarding bridge.

Note: The first time a bridge is added, the Select Object dialog will open, prompting the user to select a bridge. Each time a bridge is added thereafter, the most recently used bridge from the Model list will be automatically selected. After the bridge has been added, the dialog shows the content of the Bridge1 tab (left-hand side of the dialog), or Bridge2 or Bridge3 in the event that multiple bridges have been added. In this tab(s), the details of the selected bridge(s) can be further defined.

Note: By default, the first "parked" bridge rotunda center is automatically inserted in the drawing at the origin of the stand reference system (X=0, Y=0), along the X-axis (Orientation=0 deg). Additional bridges will not be added automatically, but instead shown as a ghost preview on the cursor ready for placement in the drawing.

After the bridge has been added, the dialog shows the content of the Bridge1 tab (left-hand side of the dialog), or Bridge2 or Bridge3 in the event that multiple bridges have been added. In this tab(s), the details of the selected bridge(s) can be further defined.

Bridge1 tab

Bridge

Model

The list box shows the selected bridge (manufacturer and model). A different bridge be selected from the recently used object list or from the Select Object dialog by clicking the Browse for bridge in library button on the right side of the drop-down list. The selected bridge can be configured in Bridge Editor by clicking the Configure bridge in Bridge Editor button, to the right of the Browse for bridge in library button.

Note: The prefix [U] is displayed in the Model box for bridges that have been customized and saved as user-defined objects in Bridge Editor. The prefix [C] is displayed in the Model box for bridges that have been configured but not saved in Bridge Editor (see Bridge Editor).

Tunnel variant

Select one of the available variants in the drop-down list box. The related operational minimum and operational maximum are displayed. These are also visible in the bridge envelope displayed in the drawing. Note that the operational distance is defined as the distance from rotunda center to cabin center. The other important distance is called working distance, defined as the distance from rotunda center to closure bumper. Also the working minimum and working maximum lines are part of the bridge envelope shown in the drawing.

Note: The extension and retraction lengths for all passenger boarding bridges include electrical (soft) limits. As a result, the full operational length of all bridge types is reduced. For some types, a vendor specific limit value is applied, for all other types an assumed value, in line with that of known vendor values, of 0.15m (6") is applied; -0.15m (-6") to extended, +0.15m (+6") to retracted length.

Column variant

Select one of the available drive column ranges. The choice depends on the height of the airplane door(s) which the bridge will need to dock to.

Note: If no drive column ranges are available for the bridge, the Column variant option is by default set to "Ignore limits" This option can also be selected by the user but it is advisable to take precaution in this instance as bridge docking will not provide a warning for any incompatible or illogical values.

Set specific values by selecting the option "User defined". When selected, two value boxes appear in which the minimum and maximum value can be entered.

Rotunda

X, Y

Refers to the origin position of the rotunda, either in Local stand coordinates or Drawing coordinates (see Stand Setup tab). To the right of the value cells is a button with two options, as follows:

•  Moves the bridge using the rotunda center as the base point
•  Moves the bridge using the building connector (the part of the rotunda that normally connects to the terminal building or fixed tunnel to the terminal building) as the base point

Floor level

Refers to the floor height of the rotunda above the selected reference.

• Height above apron: Refers to the height of the rotunda floor above the apron.
• Elevation: Refers to the height of the rotunda floor above the stand reference system or drawing X,Y plane, depending on stand design coordinate selection (see Stand Setup tab), as follows:
  • If Local stand coordinates is selected, then Elevation refers to the height of the rotunda floor in the stand reference system.
  • If Drawing coordinates is selected, then Elevation refers to the height of the rotunda floor above the drawing X,Y plane.

Note: Default values are based on the minimum and maximum height of the given bridge.

Note: The  icon highlights the fact that this is a critical parameter which should be reviewed.

Orientation

Refers to the orientation of the rotunda, either in Local stand coordinates or Drawing coordinates (see Stand Setup tab). To the right of the value cells is a button with two options, as follows:

•  Rotates the bridge using the rotunda center as the base point
•  Rotates the bridge using the building connector (the part of the rotunda that normally connects to the terminal building or fixed tunnel to the terminal building) as the base point

Note: While working in any tab, the position of the bridge(s) can be altered simply by clicking in the drawing on these elements.

• Click the parked bridge and the following context menu appears in the drawing:

Select one of the menu options and proceed with the related action in the drawing. Even if the Bridge tab is not active, its contents will be updated.

• Click a bridge that is docked to an airplane and a slightly different menu appears as follows:

Select one of the menu options and proceed with the related action in the drawing. Even if the Bridge tab is not active, its contents will be updated.

More

Press the More... button to access parameters that are likely to be edited relatively infrequently. 

Remove

Click the Remove Bridge  button to remove the current bridge. 

Note: It is only possible to remove bridges in reverse order (i.e. starting with the most recently added bridge).

More...

Bridge label

This is a text label visible in the bridge tunnel, near the cabin of the bridge. By default, the content of the label box is filled with the manufacturer and model name. This text can be replaced if desired.

Static positions table

The static positions table contains all parameters and information regarding the parked, maintenance and waypoint bridge(s) used in the Stand session.

Click the Add static position  button to add a Waypoint, Parking or Maintenance bridge.

The bridge will be shown as a ghosted preview, ready for placement in the drawing, with the cursor at the cabin center. Move the cursor in the drawing to the desired location and left-click to define the extension location of the static bridge. Move the cursor to specify the cabin rotation and left-click to confirm. The new static bridge will appear in the Static positions table.

Usage

Indicates whether the static bridge position is intended to be used for parking or maintenance, or as a waypoint when the bridge movement is visualized in 2D Presentation or 3D Presentation.

Click the  menu button to move or remove a bridge from the list and drawing (Parking1 cannot be removed).

Label

A label can be set for the static bridge (default is Parking1, Waypoint1, Maintenance1, etc.).

Operating length

The extension (distance from rotunda center to cabin center) of the static bridge.

Tunnel rotation

The direction (in degrees left or right from the rotunda rotation center) of the static bridge.

Tunnel slope

The degree and direction of slope (up or down) for the static bridge.

This is in particular of interest when defining the direction for rainwater runoff and for when the bridge is visualized in 3D environment.

Cabin rotation

The cabin rotation angle of the static bridge (in degrees left or right from the tunnel axis).

To utilize static positions during animation, see: 2D Presentation | 3D Presentation