Operators of an aerobridge at Brisbane Airport have been unable to see two 737s earlier than respective collisions with their windshields final 12 months, the ATSB has concluded.
The identical aerobridge, at Brisbane’s Gate 82, smashed the fitting windshield of Qantas 737-800 VH-VZG on 18 June and the left windshield of Fiji Airways 737 MAX 8 DQ-FAE on 26 July 2025, although no accidents have been reported on both event.
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Each plane have been accurately parked, and the aerobridge operators have been workers of their respective airways; nevertheless, as Gate 82 handles each narrow-body and wide-body plane, the parking place for a 737 is way to the fitting of the house place of the aerobridge, leading to diminished visibility of the plane.
“The ATSB’s investigation recognized security components frequent to each occurrences, discovering that each aerobridge operators couldn’t see the parked plane once they started to increase the aerobridge,” mentioned ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell.
“Slim-body plane, such because the 737, sit decrease to the bottom than wide-body plane. Consequently, to minimise the slope of the passenger tunnel, at Gate 82 they park farther from the aerobridge residence place than can be the case for wide-body plane, or at a gate designed just for narrow-body plane, reminiscent of many home terminal gates.
“As well as, this aerobridge lacked aspect viewing home windows, as put in in another aerobridges on the airport, limiting the visibility of slim‑physique plane alongside the docking path.”
Within the ATSB’s report, investigators famous that it was “accepted observe” for operators to start extending the aerobridge earlier than the plane was seen, anticipating it to come into sight in the course of the course of. Based on Mitchell, this was “strengthened by profitable operations previously”.
“However in the course of the collision occasions, every aerobridge operator moved the joystick to a 3 o’clock place after rotating the cab left, unaware that this orientation would change the aerobridge’s route of journey,” he mentioned.
Consequently, because it prolonged, the aerobridge moved diagonally in direction of the plane, relatively than parallel to it, whereas the aerobridge operator didn’t have visible reference.
The ATSB recognized aerobridge coaching and in-cab directions didn’t direct operators to achieve and preserve visibility of the plane earlier than transferring the aerobridge.
Brisbane Airport Company has subsequently disseminated data to all operators emphasising the requirement to rotate the cab in direction of the plane, and to take care of constructive line-of-sight throughout aerobridge operations.
It has additionally reviewed operator coaching manuals and recognized gaps and alternatives to be extra particular within the course of to soundly connect aerobridges to plane.
The airport has additionally created a brand new high quality assurance function centered on airside efficiency of property and operators.
“Aerobridges needs to be designed with visibility of plane in thoughts, and coaching ought to reinforce the significance of sustaining visible reference whereas working an aerobridge,” mentioned Mitchell.
Brisbane Airport says a program to exchange eight aerobridges, together with Gate 82, will embrace a evaluation of security options and narrow-body plane visibility.
