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Dewbridge Airport Systems is the business unit of DEW that specializes in the design, manufacture and installation of passenger loading bridges used by aircraft passengers to board and deplane. DEW, an ISO 9001 registered company, has been involved in airport equipment since the company was founded. In the late 1980s DEW performed design and retrofit services on such airport equipment as aircraft tow tractors, belt loaders and cargo loading trucks. DEW's customers included airlines, airports and ground support services companies. In the early 1990s DEW began designing and manufacturing modular airport walkway systems that were used to provide protected and covered access to remotely parked aircraft, usually commuter-type aircraft that were not parked at airport gates served by loading bridges. DEW saw the need for a type of passenger loading bridge that would connect to these commuter aircraft from a ground-level walkway. There was no product of this kind in the marketplace, and in 1997, DEW became the first company in the world to develop such a loading bridge. DEW's radial bridge created a new market for covered and protected access to turboprop and regional jets – aircraft that were increasingly used to replace larger aircraft and to service new routes. DEW's patented Radial Bridge was first installed in Bentonville Arkansas. Some larger Radial Bridge installations include Detroit (35), Minneapolis (30), Memphis (9), Charlotte (8) and Denver (13). Following DEW's success with the Radial Bridge, DEW developed and manufactured 2-tunnel and 3-tunnel Apron Drive Bridges. DEW offers a full range of 2-tunnel and 3-tunnel Apron Drive Bridges. The first apron drive bridges were sold to Charleston, West Virginia. Some larger Apron Drive Bridge installations include Fort Myers (27), Harrisburg (12) and Green Bay (12). In response to requests from low-cost carriers, DEW recognized the need for a bridge that extended over the wing of narrow-body aircraft to the aft door, complementing the standard Apron Drive Bridge that docks to the forward passenger door. By connecting an aircraft's forward and aft passenger doors, passengers can embark and deplane from both doors, effectively halving passenger boarding and deboarding time. The first OTW (Over-The-Wing) Bridge was installed in Calgary. OTW Bridge installations include Vancouver and Denver. The Denver installation resulted from discussions with a large mainline carrier searching for new processes and best practices in order to increase customer satisfaction and reduce costs. This resulted in the development of a highly advanced system incorporating a fully automated control system that Dewbridge named the DoubleDocker™.
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