Abstract: A telescopic boarding bridge mounted at ground level for bridging the space between a small aircraft and a terminal gate doorway. The bridge includes a terminal bridge section supported in a fixed position adjacent the terminal gate doorway and at least one moveable bridge section adapted to slidably receive a front end of the terminal bridge section. The moveable bridge section has idler wheels for allowing movement thereof on the ground. A drive mechanism is operational to selectively push and pull on each side of the moveable bridge section to linearly displace the same relative to the terminal bridge section. The telescopic boarding bridge further includes a flexible canopy enclosure which is displaceable between a retracted position for providing wing tip clearance and an extended position for covering the doorway and the sides of the stairs of a small aircraft.