Plans For ‘Detachable Cabin’ To Let Passengers Board Before Plane Lands
A radical new concept for boarding planes would see passengers on board and strapped up in their seats before the jet even lands.
The ‘detachable cabins’ design has just been patented by Airbus, who are hoping it will be able to drastically reduce the amount of time it takes between planes landing and taking off at airports.
Their plan is for passengers to get on board the cabin while the plane they are waiting for is still in the air.
Travellers who have just landed would see their cabin instantly removed and taken away for passengers to disembark as usual.
Transfer: Passengers would already be boarded when their cabin is placed on the plane (US Patent Office)
Those waiting to fly would be in a separate cabin that would be placed onto the back of the plane while it refuels - meaning it can take off again much quicker than before.
Airbus said in their patent application: “Transferring a payload in a commercial aeroplane requires that the aeroplane is immobilised on the ground.
"This is the case when boarding passengers, but also when loading their luggage or again when loading freight.
"In addition settling passengers in their respective seats in the aeroplane may lengthen the plane’s period of immobilisation.”
Airbus’ plans are for waiting times and operational costs to be reduced by the portable cabins - which could take years before ever seeing the light of day.
