- March 24th, 2013, 9:47 pm
#50714
I came across this article the other day. I know this is in regard's to Knott's Windseeker, But the article does state the following, " The evacuation system will also be installed at Cedar Fair's Windseeker rides elsewhere" which would include Carowinds.
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BUENA PARK – An evacuation system is being installed on Knott's Berry Farm's Windseeker ride, which was shut down in September after twice stranding riders 300 feet in the air.
The new system, designed by the ride's manufacturer, Netherlands-based Mondial, includes a metal cage that mechanically ascends the ride's shaft in the event that riders are stranded in the air, said Jennifer Blazey, a spokeswoman for Knott's. An employee would travel in the cage until it rises and completely encloses up to four seats; the riders would be removed from their seats and taken down.
The $5 million Windseeker is a swing ride that takes people 300 feet in the air and twirls them at up to a 45-degree angle for about 60 seconds.
On Sept. 7, 15 riders were stuck in the air for three hours as employees worked to manually lower the swings. Almost two weeks later, on Sept. 19, another 20 riders were stranded for nearly four hours.
The next day, California's Department of Occupational Safety and Health ordered the ride to be shut down pending an investigation into technical problems and evacuation procedures. Knott's parent company, Cedar Fair, then voluntarily shut down all Windseeker rides at its other five parks across the country as well.
The evacuation system was installed last week and tested without incident, Blazey said. Workers were continuing to test and fine-tune it this week, she said.
Blazey did not have a timeline for when the ride would reopen.
The evacuation system will also be installed at Cedar Fair's Windseeker rides elsewhere.
Knott's Windseeker cannot reopen until Cal-OSHA signs off, said agency spokesman Peter Melton.
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http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment ... ation.html
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BUENA PARK – An evacuation system is being installed on Knott's Berry Farm's Windseeker ride, which was shut down in September after twice stranding riders 300 feet in the air.
The new system, designed by the ride's manufacturer, Netherlands-based Mondial, includes a metal cage that mechanically ascends the ride's shaft in the event that riders are stranded in the air, said Jennifer Blazey, a spokeswoman for Knott's. An employee would travel in the cage until it rises and completely encloses up to four seats; the riders would be removed from their seats and taken down.
The $5 million Windseeker is a swing ride that takes people 300 feet in the air and twirls them at up to a 45-degree angle for about 60 seconds.
On Sept. 7, 15 riders were stuck in the air for three hours as employees worked to manually lower the swings. Almost two weeks later, on Sept. 19, another 20 riders were stranded for nearly four hours.
The next day, California's Department of Occupational Safety and Health ordered the ride to be shut down pending an investigation into technical problems and evacuation procedures. Knott's parent company, Cedar Fair, then voluntarily shut down all Windseeker rides at its other five parks across the country as well.
The evacuation system was installed last week and tested without incident, Blazey said. Workers were continuing to test and fine-tune it this week, she said.
Blazey did not have a timeline for when the ride would reopen.
The evacuation system will also be installed at Cedar Fair's Windseeker rides elsewhere.
Knott's Windseeker cannot reopen until Cal-OSHA signs off, said agency spokesman Peter Melton.
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http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment ... ation.html
Welllll....
