The Lift Maintenance Department conducts a lot of work behind the scenes each off-season getting our lifts ready for winter. In addition to the numerous maintenance projects completed each summer, the crew also periodically performs what is known as “dynamic testing” on our lifts. In accordance with the federal regulations for passenger ropeways under ANSI B.77.1 2017, each lift undergoes this test a minimum of every seven years. All new lift installations or lifts that have undergone a major modification as described by the CPTSB, also undergo this test upon completion of these projects.

The test involves simulating the weight of a lift loaded by passengers and conducting various stop, start and braking tests. Our tactic for these tests involves filling large tubs with water (some resorts use beer kegs!) to replicate the weight of loaded lift chairs. A written schedule for systematic dynamic testing has been developed and is followed by our Lift Maintenance team. The testing is conducted on the braking systems, evacuation power units, tension systems, and electrical systems.

With five aerial lifts and several major modifications over the last decade (New Drive Terminal at Garfield-2011, New Drive Terminal at Breezeway-2014, New & Upgraded Drive, Braking & Controls at Panorama-2017, New Hydraulic Tensioning System at Pano-2018), combined with the ANSI requirements to test each lift on a rotating schedule, it seems that we end up conducting this test on one of our lifts just about every year.