Paul Kantu

Hi everybody. I was wondering if anyone can help me about this subject. I'm a university student and we were asked to design a concept that will board passengers onto any airplane directly from the shuttle. I know... it sounds ridiculus but we have to do it. when i need to know the general feeling around this idea. The main research is whether there will ever be a market for this sort of idea. And if so what type of market will it be.
I will really appreciate a much inputs as possible! Thanx

LOT 737-300

I don't know what you mean. But I do know that the some 737s have special airstairs that can be put down (I think Ryanair uses them.). Also all 727 has airstairs in the rear to allow boarding from the back if it was nessessary along with the DC-9/MD80.

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MS@SFO

Hi Paul;

I am not sure exactly what you mean here and please clarify. Assuming that a plane is parked away from the Terminal and if you are talking about a vehicle that passengers board at the terminal (shuttle) and then this vehicle is then driven to where the plane is parked and then attaches itself to a plane, then this has already been done. It comes under several names:-

Passenger Transfer Vehicle
Plane-Mates
passenger boarding bridges
Jet Bridges

They are currently used at JFK, Washington Dulles. Here is a link to a company that makes them too:-

http://www.accessairsystems.com/planemate02.html

If you do a Google search on "plane mate" with the quotes you should find more information.

Here are a few pictures:-

The idea never really took off.

Anyway hope this helps.
--Mohsin