Patent ID: 11866190
Assignee: ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD.
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  Y | IPC B

Claim 15:
16. A method of loading an aircraft with fuel and personnel, the aircraft including a cabin characterized by a first capacity defined by a number of personnel in a predetermined position which may be accommodated therein, the aircraft further including an auxiliary fuel port disposed within said cabin, the method comprising:
(a) providing a floor system designed for use with the aircraft, the aircraft including an original cabin floor, the floor system being configured to be detachably installed within said cabin and overlying the original cabin floor, the floor system comprising:
one or more bottom panels configured to match at least a portion of the original cabin floor;
one or more top panels configured for providing, when the floor system is installed in the aircraft over the original cabin floor, a replacement cabin floor of the cabin overlying and replacing said at least portion of the original cabin floor,
wherein said replacement cabin floor is configured for providing a similar load-carrying capacity for the aircraft as said original cabin floor,
wherein said one or more top panels each define a general planar surface;
and
one or more fuel tanks disposed between the one or more top panels and the one or more bottom panels and defining an internal space for containing liquid fuel therewithin, at least one of said one or more fuel tanks being configured for connection to an auxiliary fuel port of the aircraft for enabling supplying said fuel to the aircraft;
wherein the floor system comprises a height, a width and a length, wherein said height is less than said width, and wherein said height is less than said length; and

wherein said height is independent of a level of fuel accommodated in the tank;
(b) detachably installing said floor system to a floor of the cabin;
(c) providing fuel within said fuel tanks;
(d) connecting said fuel tanks to said auxiliary fuel port; and
(e) loading into said cabin a non-zero number of personnel and/or cargo;
wherein said personnel are standing and/or seated on said floor system, and/or said cargo is loaded on said floor system.