Method for maneuvering and docking aircraft parked parallel to an airport terminal stand

• Main Authors: Joseph J Cox, Thomas O Martel, Isaiah Watas Cox
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 14.09.2022
• Subjects: AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COSMONAUTICS; COUNTING; DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OR METHODS, SPECIALLY ADAPTED FORADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORYOR FORECASTING PURPOSES; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING ORREPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLYADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFTCOMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE,COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTINGPURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TRANSPORTING

A method of connecting an aircraft 10 with at least two extendible passenger bridges 18, 20 at an airport terminal 16. The method may comprise at least partially extending the bridges from the terminal such that their aircraft connection ends are substantially aligned with forward and rear door positions of an aircraft, manoeuvring an aircraft to park with its forward and rear doors substantially aligned with the aircraft connection ends of the passenger bridges, adjusting each passenger bridge such that it are fully aligned with the respective door, and connecting the passenger bridges to the respective aircraft doors. The method may instead comprise extending one passenger bridge (42, figure 4) from the terminal (46, figure 4) such that its aircraft connection end is substantially aligned with a rear door position of an aircraft, manoeuvring an aircraft to park with its rear door substantially aligned with the aircraft connection end of the one passenger bridge, extending the other passenger bridge (44, figure 4) such that its aircraft connection end is substantially aligned with the front door of the aircraft, adjusting each passenger bridge such that they are fully aligned with the respective doors, and connecting the passenger bridges to the respective aircraft doors.