The Savannah Airport Commission recommends approval to procure services from Twist, Inc. to furnish and install three new boom-air hose management systems on three passenger boarding bridges in the amount of $161,895.50. Currently, there are eight existing boom-air hose management systems. The functionality of the boom-air hose management system allows the operator to push a single button and deploy only the amount of hose they need to the aircraft, make the connection, turn on the pre-conditioned air (PCA) unit, and then move on to the next task. When finished, the hose is disconnected from the aircraft and with a simple push of a button, the hose retracts safely to storage, by itself, leaving the ramp personnel free to perform additional task.

Due to the ease of use, connections are made every time. Secondly, since only the exact amount of hose required is deployed, kinks and bends are eliminated therefore allowing for sufficient air flow and eliminating the need for pilots to run auxiliary power units. This also prevents hose ingestion which could cause a safety hazard for air carrier handlers and passengers.

Twist Inc. is the sole manufacturer of this type of automated hose management systems with no other manufacturers available. As such, this is a sole source project.

Approval