february2022 - 35

Product Profile
A Simplified
Approach
to Passenger
Boarding
AERO Specialties' line of Towable
Passenger Stairways can
service aircraft ranging
from an ERJ to a B747.
AERO Specialties' Towable Passenger
Stairway allows for boarding and deplaning
while complying with OSHA requirements
and passenger safety protocols.
By Josh Smith
T
he need for passengers to
safely board and disembark
aircraft is universal. However,
some ground handling operations are
not in need of fixed boarding bridges
or stair trucks.
To assist customers that need a passenger
access solution, but cannot afford
or do not need a stair truck, AERO Specialties
provides a line of Towable Passenger
Stairways.
According to Derek Rose, vice president
of sales and marketing at AERO Specialties,
the company's line of towable stairs
provides a low-cost method for passenger
boarding and deplaning while complying
with all Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) requirements and
passenger safety protocols.
" These units are designed to be pushed
up to the aircraft by hand, " Rose says.
" That leads to less potential aircraft contact
damage and safety issues.
" We offer three variants - regional
aircraft capable, narrow-body aircraft
capable and wide-body aircraft capable, "
he continues. " Platform and stairway
sizes are similar throughout. "
The height of the platform, and the
subsequent number of steps, vary
depending on the model. The line of
Towable Passenger Stairways can service
multiple door sill heights, with one
model accommodating a range of 58 " 93 " ,
the next reaching 88 " -161 " and the
third extending to a height of 134 " -223 " .
With that flexibility, the line of Towable
Passenger Stairways can service aircraft
ranging from an ERJ to a B747.
" We have a model that is compatible
with any aircraft that does not have its
own stairway, " Rose points out.
Additional standard features include
sliding handrails to clear the aircraft door,
stabilizer jacks and non-marring soft
rubber bumpers.
The most popular option for these stairs
is an electric lift assist, according to Rose.
He notes this feature replaces the need for
a handpump to raise the stand. Furthermore,
solar power panels can be added
to a unit to charge the electric lift-assist
battery.
" The grip strut footsteps are now galvanized
for added durability, " Rose says,
adding improved LED step and platform
lights have been integrated as well.
Officials at AERO Specialties seek
to keep these units as easy to use
as possible.
" These are simple products that provide
extreme durability and longevity of
use, " Rose says. " The simple design makes
them easy to maintain and operate. "
A general visual inspection and preventative
maintenance for the hydraulic
filters is required, as is checking the state
of the battery for the light system and
inspecting the wheels.
" Units should be washed and cleaned
frequently, especially in corrosive environments, "
Rose says.
Customer feedback has remained positive,
and Rose says this is a testament to
the simple design of the units.
" The units also can ship in a sea container,
which makes them very popular
with operators outside the USA, " he says.
" These are very popular with military
customers as well as FBO and charter
operations, " he continues. " This a popular
option for customers with hardstand
operations or locations that do not utilize a
boarding bridge or have access or funding
for a stair truck. "
When selecting passenger boarding
stairs, a customer should consider what
will be the smallest and the largest aircraft
they intend to service.
Towing distance is also a factor when
considering a towable stand versus a
truck-mounted unit.
What's more, the number of daily turns
will have an impact on whether a towable
unit or a truck-mounted unit is the best
option for a specific location. The ability to
affordably handle passenger flights with
an easy-to-use and low maintenance solution
is an additional benefit.
February 2022 || AviationPros.com || 35
AERO SPECIALTIES
http://www.AviationPros.com
february2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of february2022
