Jet Bridge Replacement Takes Flight at Syracuse Airport
A 54,000-pound replacement, an active airport and one carefully coordinated day. Trimble Services brought the lifting capacity and mobility of our 220-ton Tadano to Syracuse Hancock International Airport to help replace an existing passenger boarding bridge—and followed the old bridge all the way to the scrapyard.
Quick Project Facts
Location: Syracuse Hancock International Airport
Client: Jet Bridge America, Inc.
🏗 Services: Jet Bridge Hoisting
Equipment: Tadano ATF 220G-5
Project Partners: Jet Bridge America, Inc.
Completion: Sept 15
Out With the Old. In With the New.
Trimble Services recently partnered with Jet Bridge America, Inc. to support the replacement of a passenger boarding bridge at Syracuse Hancock International Airport.
The operation began with mobilizing and setting up our Tadano ATF 220G-5 at the airport. The new 54,000-pound jet bridge was offloaded and staged before the existing 38,000-pound bridge was removed, dismantled and loaded onto the same tractor-trailer that had delivered its replacement.
The new bridge, which incorporated additional sections to provide greater extension, was then assembled and hoisted into position.
But that wasn’t quite the end of the day’s work.
With the airport portion complete, the 220-ton mobilized approximately 6.5 miles to Metalico, where the crane was set up again to unload the retired jet bridge for recycling before returning to Trimble’s shop.
Working Airside Without Stopping the Airport
The replacement took place while Syracuse Hancock International Airport remained active, adding another layer of coordination to an already compact work area.
Space around the gate was limited, requiring the crew to carefully manage crane setup, equipment staging and the movement of both jet bridges within a congested site.
The crew also had to hold each bridge suspended while its positioning jacks were addressed—first while the jacks were removed from the existing bridge and later while they were installed on the replacement.
That meant maintaining a controlled suspended load while other portions of the work were completed below.
A Jet Bridge Isn't Just a Heavy Pick
Passenger boarding bridges present an interesting rigging challenge. Their long, telescoping construction means controlling the structure during a lift involves more than simply supporting its weight.
For this project, a chain was secured at the end of the bridge to prevent the inner telescoping section from sliding during the lift. Maintaining control of those moving sections was an important consideration as the bridge was hoisted and repositioned.
Capacity Without Complicating Mobilization
Trimble selected the Tadano ATF 220G-5 based on the capacity required at the planned boom length and working radius—but mobilization efficiency also played a role.
Configured with approximately 100 feet of boom and working at roughly a 40-foot radius, the crane provided the capacity needed for the 54,000-pound replacement bridge while requiring only one 10-wheel truckload of counterweights for the project.
One Carefully Sequenced Operation
The day’s work followed a deliberate sequence designed around the arrival and departure of the two bridges.
Trimble first mobilized to Syracuse Hancock International Airport and established the 220-ton crane. The replacement bridge was offloaded from its delivery trailer and staged nearby.
The existing bridge was then rigged and removed. After dismantling, it was transferred onto the now-empty trailer that had delivered the new bridge.
With the old unit prepared for transport, the replacement bridge was assembled, rigged and hoisted into position.
Jet Bridge America coordinated the transportation logistics, allowing the same trailer movement to bring the new equipment to the airport and carry the retired bridge away.
Tadano ATF 220G-5
Capacity Class: 220 ton
Boom Used: Approx. 100 ft.
Working Radius: Approx. 40 ft.
Heaviest Jet Bridge: Approx. 54,000 lbs.
For this project, capacity was only part of the equation. The Tadano provided the combination of lifting capability and streamlined mobilization needed to complete work at two locations in a single day.
Want to learn more about the capabilities of our Tadano ATF 220G-5? View the crane’s load chart here for detailed lifting capacities, boom configurations and working radii.
One More Pick Before Heading Home
With the new passenger boarding bridge in position, Trimble’s work still wasn’t finished.
The retired bridge traveled approximately 6.5 miles from Syracuse Hancock International Airport to Metalico for recycling. Trimble followed with the 220-ton, established a second crane setup alongside the trailer and lifted the old bridge off for unloading.
From there, the crane mobilized back to Trimble’s shop—closing out a full operation spanning two locations in the same day.
Scheduled for One Day. Finished in One Day.
From the first setup at Syracuse Hancock to the final unload at Metalico, Trimble completed its entire scope within the project’s planned one-day schedule.
The operation required multiple crane setups, two passenger boarding bridges, coordination with an active airport and careful sequencing between removal, installation and transportation.
No dramatic field changes were necessary. The plan worked—and sometimes that’s the best result a project can have.
A special thank you to Jet Bridge America, Inc. for the opportunity to partner on this project. We appreciate the trust in Trimble Services and enjoyed working alongside your team to bring this replacement together safely and efficiently.