Patent ID: 6102332
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: B64C,B64D,Y02T

Abstract:
A method of transporting large numbers of passengers by air from a departure airfield to a destination airfield, said method comprising the steps of:(a) providing an airframe located at the departure airfield;(b) providing a plurality of passenger pods at the departure airfield, each pod containing seats and accommodations for a predetermined number of passengers;(c) loading each of the plurality of passenger pods with passengers at a traditional airport gate facility located at the departure airfield;(d) transporting the loaded pods across a tarmac to the airframe;(e) attaching each of the loaded pods to the wings of the airframe;(f) flying the airframe with pods attached to the destination airfield;(g) detaching the pods from the airframe at the destination airfield;(h) transporting the detached pods on the tarmac to gate facilities at the destination airfield; and(i) unloading passengers from the pods at the gate facilities.