Ropeway engineering

[photoengineer]

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?

 

[MiketheEngineer]

I guess I made a good decision!!

 

[Forensic74]

I had a project that involved designing the foundation for one of these towers. Never again. You learn really quickly how huge of a liability this area of work is.

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://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4462367...i-zip-line-accident-leaves-dead/#.Tw2W26VrM8A

http://adventureropegear.com/blog/?p=90

 

[moon161]

I guess I made a good decision!!

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.

 

[Ron]

Photoengineer...another problem you have to deal with is the expectations of the state or federal regulators.

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.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

And many states have NO inspection/verification laws other than the local building official who makes about $15.00 an hour and knows nothing about structures goes out and looks at it a couple of times while it is being built. Then that is it!!

What about the "circus coming to town" with their rides. Most of the operators are either crack heads or drunks.