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 ...
LOL. Now you're talking!
How do you escape the airplane if it makes an emergency landing—or ditches in water?
Are the pods going to be self-sufficient, with parachutes and or flotation devices? (all of which would add to the weight/cost)
Know the feeling. Try 25 mg of Valium along with a beta blocker (propranolol).
Give passengers a Valium IV and stack them like cord wood. That’s the answer.
The extra weight of a double body and associated increased fuel costs would totally negate any savings in time.
Our loadmaster was always of the opinion that anything not crew or airframe was CARGO!
No longer any need for hubs. All flights are nonstop!
With the pod handling done by the aircraft, there will be in-flight pod transfers.
Instead of a "Flight", it is a "Trip". You can board anywhere - your local bus or train station, or outside the ball game. Pod would be passed by modular bus/train/tractor-trailer/ferry/steamship to airport, and then back to bus/train/etc.
Good question...
Recently several planes has caught on fire on the tarmac...
Are they going to pull up hoisting equipment to pull the pod out while the plane is on fire ?
Good luck with that...
Could even be transferred to another plane if the first one has mechanical difficulties. Could save sitting on the runway for hours.
That’s the nature of business. If enough people dislike it, they’ll just take their money elsewhere. That is unless it’s a Christian bakery.
Also drop the baggage fee ripoff. In fact award customers bonus frequent flyer miles if they check their bags. Also on fair weather days allow dual boarding—thats is passengers who are seated in the back of the plane have an option to use the portable stairs to board thru the rear door on the larger aircraft.
“This actually seems like a good idea.
Why did Europeans come up with it?”
They needed a way to quickly redistribute Syrian refugees...another European brainstorm.
I would reverse the current baggage fee structure, checked bags are free, and charge for carry ons. This would have to speed up the boarding process.
They used to call them cattle cars.
I propose a giant funnel placed into one of the windows.
I have no urge to enter the plane earlier than I have to. The seats are cramped, the passengers often stink, & the ambiance is that of a cattle car.
Loading passengers into pods then loading the pods on the planes means I have to spend even more time in this hell.
No thanks.
Southwest Airlines has the most efficient boarding process by far, and it is aligned well with a basic, tiered pricing structure.
I just flew to/from the Caribbean on business on American. They have so many boarding tiers, before the proletariat class is allowed to board. Some aisle seats were filled, before the window people boarded, further jamming up the aisles. I could go on an on, but anyone who has flown knows the experience of inefficiency of boarding. It is like the Greyhound bus culture has sprouted wings.
There is a spoof movie boarding scene with Joe Pesci. He is involved in crime where he has 3 decapitated heads in his carry on. It is quite funny - how he treats the young guy sitting next to him, and then when the flight attendant wants to move his bag.
SW loading is good, but since most find the front of the plane more desireable, there is a jam in aisle at the front. Let me on first and I won’t be slowing things down as I go sit in the back at a window seat.
I usually go to the back too; if the flight is nearly full, odds for an unoccupied center seat next to you improves. SW is not perfect, but definitely the most efficient. I remember their prior boarding system. The cattle yard formed at the gate before boarding. They obviously figured out how to make it easier.
(BTW - correction of my previous post - there were 8 heads in Joe Pesci’s duffle bag. )
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