Thursday, May 15, 2014
Dubai: There was more than what meets the eye to the Guinness World Record’s highest base jump that took place from the top of Burj Khalifa last month.
Behind the scenes, WSP, an engineering and design consultancy, was the mastermind behind the three-metre custom-made structure placed on the pinnacle of the world’s tallest man-made building that made the 828 metres jump possible.
The two French daredevils, Vince Reffet and Fred Fugen broke the record on April 21 between 6am and 9am after performing two base jumps from the top of the Burj Khalifa in Downtown Dubai.
A total of six jumps took place from the a three-metre by one-metre platform on top of the tower, explained a team of engineers, designers, and technical managers from WSP at a press conference on Thursday.
After receiving the request through an email titled, Top secret project, the WSP team soon realised that what seemed like a crazy idea was their next project.
They were quick to brainstorm the best concept to create and install a platform for the jump by holding a competition at the office.
Keeping the safety and security of the divers the main focus of the project, the team discussed numerous ideas to find the best way to build a platform on the 1.2 metres construction site on the top of the tower.
Structural engineer Andy Veall explained at the press conference that while the platform was easy to construct, the restricted construction site made the installation part a challenge.
Working with the royal air arm was an option, he said. The team contemplated the option of slowly lowering the structure onto the pinnacle of the tower using a helicopter, but the risks were too high, explained Veall.
Using software to create and examine a 3D model of the structure, the platform was finally built over three days and installed in three stages manually.
Sections and elements of the structure were carried up and installed by hand, along with bolts and screws, which were physically secured onto the platform.
After using the lift to the 160 floor of the Burj Khalifa, the construction team then had to climb up a steel staircase followed by an 84 metre vertical climb to reach the platform.
The duo spent a year to prepare for the record jump with help from SkyDive Dubai and when it happened, the jump was carried out in the early morning to minimise dangers from strong wind speeds at the tower.
The platform was inspected and approved, and was soon after the jump off point for the French Duo who broke the previous 2010 record of Emirati jumpers Nasser Al Neyadi and Omar Al Hegelan.
By Jumana Khamis Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2014. All rights reserved.
