Ropeway engineering
Ropeway engineering
(OP)
I have an interest in doing on-site inspections of ropeways (i.e., chairlifts at ski resorts). I think this would be fun. I currently work in aerospace with very large jets, and ropeways are signficantly different than airplanes in many respects.
How does one go about entering this field for this kind of work? And how would I go about soliciting work from ski resorts?
How does one go about entering this field for this kind of work? And how would I go about soliciting work from ski resorts?





RE: Ropeway engineering
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Ropeway engineering
I also hold a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Not a license, but good to have.
Cedar Bluff Engineering
http://cedarbluffengineering.webs.com
RE: Ropeway engineering
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RE: Ropeway engineering
But I could be wrong as the sky is the limit.
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Ropeway engineering
However, it's likely to done prior to actual ski season, so no free lift tickets would be my bet. If that was what you're looking for, you might be better off volunteering for ski patrol.
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RE: Ropeway engineering
http://
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RE: Ropeway engineering
I just think ski lifts are cool. Actually, I think pretty much any people moving device is cool (space shuttle, airplanes, cars, trains, etc), and has a lot of interesting engineering goes into things that move people.
I'll keep my ears and eyes open. The right opportunity might pop up someday.
RE: Ropeway engineering
While I've not heard of any failures, these lifts do create additional wear/tear on the clamps that attach the chairs to the rope. I'm also amazed at the amount of cold-working on the rope. A rope made from copper would never be able to handle the repetition bending and unbending; we had a service loop for flex cable that work hardened and failed in less than 100000 cycles. Of course, when you do the numbers, it comes out that even assuming a 100000-cycle limit, that's almost 10 years of life assuming 120 days of usage per year at 7 hrs/day. So replacing the rope every 4 yrs or so would ensure no failures during operation.
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RE: Ropeway engineering
On the other hand - somebody has to do it.
RE: Ropeway engineering
Kind of like passenger aircraft then
(Except of course then the company is usually carrying the insurance.)
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Ropeway engineering
Absolutely it is a high liability work. And the added liability (while a pain for insurance purposes) is what fascinates me so much about transportation engineering in general - there is a lot of emphasis for safety, reliability, and inspectability.
IRStuff,
They have incidents a lot more often that a guy would think. Typically a wind gust comes up and detaches the chair when it's not supposed to be detached, or the wire rope falls off of the sheave. In my home state, they had a cable start to break apart and a gondola fell and fortuanate the backup cables held...in each of these cases professional engineers were hired to do an investigation and write a report as to the cause and recommended corrective action. Very interesting stuff.
(Plus, ski resorts are some of the most scenic places to spend time at, and on top of a tower your view is incredible.)
Cedar Bluff Engineering
http://cedarbluffengineering.webs.com
RE: Ropeway engineering
Keep in mind this is a high liability exposure market.
RE: Ropeway engineering
When was the last time you heard of part failure bringing a passenger jet down - maybe TWA FL800 about 10 years ago....
But I just don't see this level of engineering or maintenance in a simple ski lift.
So, the liability might be high but like I said -- somebody has to do it. GO FOR IT.
On a lighter note: The Saturn 5 rocket that took us to the moon - if 99.99% of all the parts were working correctly - that left over 1,000 that weren't!!!!! And it was built by the lowest bidder!!!
Have fun skiing - it is FUN!!!
RE: Ropeway engineering
Seriously, maybe there is a market here if you can show a premium reduction greater than your invoice, plus avoidance of all that pesky bad press when an accident happens. Maybe contact Lloyds of London or similar to get some info on potential premium reductions when equipment is inspected by an expert. Who would of course be you.
If you like to travel I could see this being a fantastic job. Swing through the mountains for eight weeks, inspecting as you go, and write it all off. Then do the same down in the Gulf.
I think you may be a genius...
RE: Ropeway engineering
Ski areas are huge major facilities with roads, bridges, snow making systems, streams, maybe some dams, buildings, sidewalk heating systems, etc. My guess is that they hire out much of the engineering work but have engineer types on staff to administer the work.
RE: Ropeway engineering
But I do design buildings that house more than 300 people. So what was the difference??
I don't know - just felt I wouldn't have the control I needed.??
RE: Ropeway engineering
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Ropeway engineering
You'd like to think so wouldn't you.
Unfortunately it's not actually that way.
RE: Ropeway engineering
RE: Ropeway engineering
RE: Ropeway engineering
It's not an exact science and hard to prove you're right if something does go wrong... AND I learned that even if its built right but they dont maintain the system correctly and someone gets hurt, the PE is dragged into litigation.
http
http://adventureropegear.com/blog/?p=90
RE: Ropeway engineering
The guy w/o legs argued w/ the 18 y/o kid who wouldn't let him on till he eventually did. That'll stick with you for a few years at least.
RE: Ropeway engineering
Back in the early 1990's I developed the initial inspection protocol for amusement rides and devices for the state of Florida. They then required certification of amusement ride and device inspectors. I was one of the first 10 authorized to do that. Then the protocol had to mesh with state law...that's where the problem came in. Someone in the legislature, with some poor engineering input, decided that each amusement ride had to be "tested or inspected for fatigue". I explained that there was no visual, predictive test for fatigue and that only stress levels and stress repetitions with respect to materials could predict that and not even reliably so. Deaf ears.
Bottom line...I did some of the transportable rides inspections but decided that the liability was too high for that and confined my inspections to the "permanent parks" rides at Disney, Universal and Busch parks, which I did for about 10 years.
Have done failure investigations on a variety rides, both the transportable type and at permanent parks.
RE: Ropeway engineering
What about the "circus coming to town" with their rides. Most of the operators are either crack heads or drunks.