SubscribeThe use of PreConditioned Air (PCAir) has become common place around the world. The financial savings of providing both 400 Hz and PCAir to aircraft while parked on the ground versus running the aircraft's auxiliary power unit are well known.
However, the cost savings by prolonging the life of your PCAir hoses that carry the heated/cooled air from the PCAir unit to the aircraft are not as widely known. The fact that by using a reel to deliver the PCAir hose to the aircraft and to stow the hose when it is not in use has proven to be the best and most cost effect method of handling PCAir hoses.
J&B Aviation Services has been leading the way in the design and supply of PCAir hoses in North America for over 7 years and as of late has been providing them to countries around the world. The types of reels used to meet the specific demands of customers around the world have lead J&B to currently offer over 15 variations of PCAir hose reels.
A few of the items that dictate the use of different reels for different customers' needs are if the unit is needed to move with the passenger boarding bridge or just be a 'stand alone' reel? Is the customer located in a climate that will find snow on the ground at times? Is there a design reason that dictates the reel have a low profile so as to not interfere with height restrictions below the passenger boarding bridge when servicing narrow body or commuter aircraft? Any one or a combination of the above items along with numerous other reasons will cause the PCAir hose reel to change in its design.
J&B even offers yokes to secure the PCAir hose reel to the wheel bogie of the passenger boarding bridge. These yokes are designed to carry from one to three hose reels depending on the aircraft mix and type of use expected at a given gate.
The reason PCAir hose reels have grown in popularity is due to their reasonably low cost and the fact they save an airport money every time they are used. PCAir hose reels are the quickest and easiest way to take a PCAir hose from the passenger boarding bridge to the aircraft. It takes approximately half the time to deploy and insert a PCAir hose when a reel is used as opposed to rolling the hose in or out on the ground by hand.
This fact is especially important to airports and airlines looking to save some precious seconds and minutes getting the aircraft APU turned off as quickly as possible. Some airlines have concluded that by saving even 30 seconds per turn on the ground can save them millions of dollars in fuel costs per year.
Another reason for the use of PCAir hose reels besides saving time is how they prolong the life of your PCAir hoses. PCAir hose reels do away with the hose rubbing on the ground. Not having the PCAir hose rubbing on the ground minimizes both the wear on the hose and the possibility of the hose developing a hole or tear.
It is very important to realize that no type of stowage device for PCAir hose is effective if it is not used. This is where the advantage of a PCAir hose reel can be seen just by looking at the airport ramp. The personnel on the ramp at airports where PCAir hose reels are used are considerably more likely to stow the PCAir hose when the hose is not in use then at those locations where reels are not utilized. This is because the PCAir hose reel allows the operator to be able to perform his duties quicker, easier and with no lifting.
A typical PCAir hose can weigh approximately 25 kilos. If the operator is forced to lift this weight into a basket or other type of awkward stowage device then they are less likely to use it and more likely to be injured. A couple of airports utilize PCAir hose reels just to minimize injuries. All of the advantages of PCAir hose reels listed above such as quicker turn times and minimizing injuries are even further pronounced when the PCAir hoses being used are wet due to rain or snow.
PCAir hose reels from J&B are the best available in the world and come with the built-in experience that only the world leader can provide. Therefore, J&B's PCAir hose reels allow you the flexibility of utilizing a reel that meets your requirements, works without problem at the time of install and provides years of maintenance-free use while saving money in the process.
