Most of us have not visited the airport in a while now, but even while terminals are quiet, the buildings need looking after. Have you ever wondered who looks after Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport’s incredible vertical glass roof? Tonight let’s meet the repair team who brave wind and rain to climb up there week in week out. Without them, the landmark would soon be a ruin.
Buckle up your harness and hold tight to the rail. Workers ride a construction car up to the top of the airport roof before climbing carefully out.
There they attach more safety ropes and get to work on the doorway to Taiwan.
There have been one too many leaks inside the airport on rainy days. These “special forces” are here to sort it out, patching up the holes in the glass roof above the terminal.
Liu Yueh-cheh
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport
The sea winds are quite strong here at the Taoyuan airport. Aluminum sheets often come out of place because of the wind, or get slightly deformed, which causes cracks in the seams between the glass. So now we’ve instituted a biweekly inspection of the whole airport: Terminals 1 and 2 and the North and South concourses.
The roof of the airport has an unusual design, almost vertical at the top. Workers have to be athletic, getting off the construction car and relying on climbing ropes to stay safe.
Hsu Shih-chu
Sincere Group airport division head
This glass is really quite dangerous. It’s not like typical glass, which would have a shorter surface. This horizontal surface is quite psychologically challenging. Some people can’t bear to get on it.
Liu Yueh-cheh
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport
At its steepest, it is 90 degrees. At every inspection, we have to carefully find a way to let down our safety equipment from above. The repair personnel have to wear safety harnesses on their backs, and we have to do a certain amount of psychological preparation with them. Because it’s extremely high up and quite dangerous work.
Finally in place, they can squirt on cleaning agents, and clean the glass with water jets and long-handled mops. Cleaning is a vital part of maintenance work. These “special forces” work out of sight, but without them, the show would not go on.