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Airbus wants to build 'shipping container' cabins that
Daily Telegraph (UK) ^ | November 11 2015 | Andrew Trotman

Posted on 11/27/2015 4:56:01 AM PST by Winniesboy

Proposal would mean passengers wouldn't have to wait to board, and planes would spend less time on the ground...

The proposal would see passengers "board" the cabin and take their seats, before it is lifted like a shipping container onto the back of the plane. It is then fixed into place and the plane operates as normal....

The idea is designed to speed up the boarding process by allowing ticket-holders to take their seats before their plane is ready and in position at the airport's gate...

"The period of imobilisation on the ground of the aeroplanes between two successive flights increases their operational cost. Indeed, the longer this period of immobilisation, the less actual flight time of each aeroplane," Airbus stated in its filing...

"Passengers could be pre-seated in cabin pods before the plane actually arrives, ready for integration on the aircraft, saving time and making processing much simpler."

The aircraft manufacturer also believes its proposal - dubbed the "aircraft pod concept" will allow planes to be modified quickly and easily. This could allow changes to allow "different levels of comfort" for passengers....

However, Airbus' proposal requires new docking stations and equipment to transport the "pods" between the airport and the plane.

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; Technical; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: aerospace
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1 posted on 11/27/2015 4:56:01 AM PST by Winniesboy
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To: Winniesboy
Just reading the article has my claustrophobia SCREAMING.


2 posted on 11/27/2015 5:05:17 AM PST by moovova
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To: Winniesboy

It’s always easier when you can treat people like little interchangeable things.


3 posted on 11/27/2015 5:05:28 AM PST by o_1_2_3__
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To: Winniesboy

Boeing


4 posted on 11/27/2015 5:06:26 AM PST by bert ((K.E.; N.P.; GOPyes but now I must concentratc.;+12, 73, ....carson is the kinder gentler trumping.)
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To: Winniesboy

I see some big time advantages to a passenger container or pod.
I also see lots of mostly self serving nay saying.
One thing guaranteed though, there will probably be a long noisy debate.


5 posted on 11/27/2015 5:07:02 AM PST by Tupelo (Honest men go to Washington, but honest men do not stay in Washington.)
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To: Winniesboy
Passenger's wouldn't wait to board, but would have to sit in a cabin pod for possibly prolonged periods while they get transferred onto the plane. Anything the airlines do is not anymore for the comfort/convenience of the passengers. It's for the bottom line of the airline. If they want to speed up boarding, then don't allow any carry ons (with the exception of small things like diaper bags, and computers), and do a much better/faster job with baggage handling.
6 posted on 11/27/2015 5:07:16 AM PST by pieceofthepuzzle
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To: Winniesboy

This actually seems like a good idea.

Why did Europeans come up with it?


7 posted on 11/27/2015 5:09:08 AM PST by Cringing Negativism Network (http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5700.html)
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To: Cringing Negativism Network

Here’s the thing....you’d have X number of these for a 20/80 mix on VIP/regular travel and X number for a 50/50 mix. Depending the route, time of day, and you’d just slip it into the bay and get everyone to act like a herd of cows.


8 posted on 11/27/2015 5:12:04 AM PST by pepsionice
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To: pepsionice

Although I don’t see how you could really do this, and keep the structural integrity of the design.

Aircraft are very strong. This would break the hull’s integrity.

Bad idea, on second thought.

Carry on.


9 posted on 11/27/2015 5:13:51 AM PST by Cringing Negativism Network (http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5700.html)
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To: Cringing Negativism Network

I think it’s a really bad idea.

Even if you ignore any issues related to the passengers themselves, this is certain to create a heavier airframe for a given number of passengers, and a heavier airframe means more fuel burned per mile/km.

The only way it might make sense is on short flights in which the passenger loading/unloading time is a relatively large portion of the flight time.


10 posted on 11/27/2015 5:15:46 AM PST by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: DuncanWaring

I completely agree.

Carry on Boeing.


11 posted on 11/27/2015 5:17:00 AM PST by Cringing Negativism Network (http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5700.html)
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To: pieceofthepuzzle

Just schedule the passengers to load in three waves, back to front, window seats first, center and then aisle.


12 posted on 11/27/2015 5:19:34 AM PST by Paladin2 (my non-desktop devices are no longer allowed to try to fix speling and punctuation, nor my gran-mah.)
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To: Cringing Negativism Network
This actually seems like a good idea.

How will the airlines get you your tiny bag of pretzels and 6 oz of a drink?

I don't know how stuffing you into pod is a good idea, but to each his own...

13 posted on 11/27/2015 5:22:44 AM PST by Popman (Christ alone: My Cornerstone...)
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To: Cringing Negativism Network; DuncanWaring

There is an older, simpler solution that has little effect on the air frame..... a rear door with steps descending to a lower level


14 posted on 11/27/2015 5:23:42 AM PST by bert ((K.E.; N.P.; GOPyes but now I must concentratc.;+12, 73, ....carson is the kinder gentler trumping.)
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To: Winniesboy

I think something similar was tried a while back.

A better ideas might be a bus like vehicle without engine that could be winched or pushed into the bay of a cargo plane. Virtual Windows and it might be possible to make the vehicle able to be jettisoned in an emergency.


15 posted on 11/27/2015 5:25:36 AM PST by prisoner6 (Unmutual and Disharmonious)
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To: moovova

I’m thinking that I won’t be applying for the Early Airbus Adopters Club. I’m really not into Beta-Testing new aircraft concepts.


16 posted on 11/27/2015 5:26:12 AM PST by InterceptPoint
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To: o_1_2_3__

They should use drones to lift people from the parking lot and fly them to their container where upon being dropped in their seat, the chair auto buckles their belt and an exploding pack of pretzles “pops” on the self deploying food tray before the people skid brake is released and rolls out of the terminal into the ass end of the aircraft where they are greeted by a cargo hold operator sceaming secure commands to undocumented workers from war torn Seria.


17 posted on 11/27/2015 5:26:45 AM PST by Eddie01
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To: Winniesboy
Gerry Anderson had the idea 50 years ago.

I
18 posted on 11/27/2015 5:27:43 AM PST by jmcenanly ("The more corrupt the state, the more laws." Tacitus, Publius Cornelius)
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To: Winniesboy
Heck, why bother with all that take off and landing cycle. Passenger pod drop off, easy peasy...Multi destination drop-offs, continuous flight.

A real E-ticket ride puts delicious fear back into air travel

19 posted on 11/27/2015 5:28:44 AM PST by Covenantor ("Men are ruled-...by liars who passing refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern." Chesterton)
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To: Winniesboy

Integrated bathrooms?
What about transfers? Standbys?
Most trips today include flying to a hub, transferring to another plane.

Lose a pod similar to losing luggage. LOL


20 posted on 11/27/2015 5:37:59 AM PST by Vinnie
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