Domodedovo Airport is getting ready to receive Airbus A380 on a regular basis
On the night between 18-19 April Moscow Domodedovo airport received a unique cargo - Apron Drive airbridge which is designed to serve the world largest passenger aircraft Airbus 380. The main technical feature of this equipment, not applied in Russia before, is that the airbridge can “reach” to the upper deck of the giant aircraft: the height of its docking station is 8.5 meters instead of 5.4 meters for usual bridges. Upon installation of a new construction Domodedovo airport, which was first in Russia to receive Airbus A380 in October 2009, will be fully equipped to serve the world largest passenger airliner on a regular basis.
The glass airbridge Apron Drive, which fits perfectly the architectural concept of Domodedovo airport, was built at ThyssenKrupp Airport Systems plant. Its journey to Moscow began on March 19 from the Spanish town of Mires and ended this day month on the airport apron. Specific conditions were observed at its transportation - the length of the decomposed glass walkway can be compared to the height of a nine-level house, it is equal to 31 meters. Namely, at final stage the night time was chosen to move through Moscow and Moscow region so that the roadtrain that consisted of four trucks, two escort cars and a traffic police car, moving at a rate of 30 km/h, did not disturb other drivers.
Double-level airbridge with three walkways that is being mounted at Domodedovo will ensure the compliance with the requirements of airlines operating the A380, according to which the time spent on passengers boarding (depending on the layout the superliner can accommodate from 550 to 800 people) shall not exceed 25 minutes and the process of passengers unloading should take 15 minutes only.
The new Apron Drive airbridge will be at first docked to the two existing passenger bridges and then connected to the special integrated “Anti-Collision System”. This system will not only synchronize the operation of all three units, but also eliminate any possibility of collision of airbridges with any obstacle.
As part of airport preparation to reception and service of the A380 on a regular basis, Domodedovo vehicle fleet was completed by the equipment of the world leading manufacturers. In order to meet the fifteen-minute standard for anti-icing treatment of the A380, the airport will need 6 times more vehicles than for the treatment of the A320 over the same period of time. In this regard, Domodedovo purchased 2 additional deicers Elephant B-15 produced by Vestergaard. The airport also bought two aircraft tugs Schopf of own weight of 70 tons and two towing carriers by Cavotec for towing the 500-tons heavy-weight.
After airbridge installation, which shall be completed on May 4, Domodedovo airport will become the only Russian air harbor fully prepared to receive A380 on a regular basis.