We already know about the ramps they use for boarding and deplaning for most if not all passengers including those on wheelchairs. As we boarded our plane to Legazpi last month, I noticed that there was another way to board aircraft if the passenger was on wheelchair. Here are some photos I took of the elevator access at NAIA Terminal 3.

I took this photo of a female passenger being wheeled into the elevator compartment after the ramp was elevated to the compartment level. Notice that there is another wheelchair-bound passenger waiting in the shade at the right in the photo.

After the female passenger is inside the compartment, the ramp is lowered and the male passenger is wheeled unto the ramp.

The ramp elevates towards the compartment door.

When level, the doors open for the second passenger to enter.

The doors close and the main elevator goes up with the 2 passengers and the ground personnel assisting them.

The platform is elevated until its door and ramp is aligned with the plane’s door.

Ground personnel assisting the wheelchair-bound passenger knocking on the door for flight attendants to open it for the passenger.

Airline crew opening the door for the wheelchair-bound passengers

This was the first time I saw this equipment at an airport. I wonder if there are similar elevators at the other NAIA terminals or in other Philippine airports where there are no tubes or bridges connecting the aircraft to the terminal buildings.

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