Folding Canopy for Passenger Boarding Bridges
Weather-sealing overhead canopy that bridges the gap between any passenger boarding bridge and any aircraft type, from EMB 145 to A380.
The Hübner folding canopy is the overhead bellows enclosure mounted at the forward end of a passenger boarding bridge, forming a weather-tight tunnel between the bridge cabin and the aircraft fuselage doorframe. When a bridge docks, the canopy deploys around the aircraft skin and door surround, eliminating wind, rain, dust, and noise intrusion during boarding and deplaning — a critical passenger experience and operational continuity requirement at exposed, high-throughput gates.
The canopy is designed for the full commercial aircraft spectrum. Adjustable polymer bumpers seal against the fuselage regardless of fuselage radius, accommodating anything from narrow-body regional jets such as the Embraer EMB 145 through single-aisle A320-family aircraft up to the double-deck Airbus A380. A patented kinematic deployment mechanism maintains continuous sealing contact while applying only minimal pressure on the aircraft skin, protecting paintwork and composite panels.
Fabric is produced in-house by Hübner in two material grades: ESM-coated and silicone-coated, both rated for heat up to +80°C and cold down to -40°C — making the product viable from Scandinavian winters to Gulf ramp temperatures. Fire-resistance certifications span DIN 5510-2 (S3/SR1/ST2), NF F 16-101 (M2/F3), and NFPA 415, covering European and North American regulatory environments.
Four drive options — manual, 24V DC (suited to mobile passenger steps), 120V/50Hz AC, and 230V/50Hz AC — serve the full range of fixed-gate and remote-stand installations. Drive motors include freewheel safety mechanisms and thermal overload protection; the motorised variants cut deployment cycle time by approximately 45% versus manual operation. Finishes are available in translucent, coloured, or standard grey to match airport livery schemes.
For GCC airports operating in extreme heat with high aircraft utilisation and aggressive turnaround targets, the temperature tolerance, low-contact sealing, and fast-cycle drive options are directly relevant to ramp operations.
Technical specifications.
| Temperature range (ESM fabric) | -40 to +80 °C |
| Temperature range (silicone fabric) | -40 to +80 °C |
| Aircraft compatibility | EMB 145 through Airbus A380 |
| Drive options | Manual / 24V DC / 120V 50Hz AC / 230V 50Hz AC |
| Drive cycle time reduction (motorised vs manual) | ~45 % |
| Fire standard (ESM) — Germany | DIN 5510-2: S3/SR1/ST2 |
| Fire standard (ESM) — France | NF F 16-101: M2/F3 |
| Fire standard (silicone) — North America | NFPA 415 |
| Finish options | Translucent / coloured / standard grey |
Use cases.
- ›Fixed contact gates at major international hubs requiring all-weather passenger protection
- ›Remote stands served by mobile passenger steps (24V DC drive variant)
- ›Airports operating mixed narrow-body and wide-body fleets on shared apron infrastructure
- ›Replacement or refurbishment of worn canopies on existing third-party PBB installations
- ›Hot-climate airports where fabric durability at sustained high ambient temperatures is a procurement requirement
- ›Airports with branding or livery schemes requiring custom-coloured or translucent enclosures