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I don't get it. People would still need to board into this pod thing and then they'd have to move the pod onto the plane and check to make sure it's secure and

I don't get it. People would still need to board into this pod thing and then they'd have to move the pod onto the plane and check to make sure it's secure and such. That seems like it would take even longer. I suppose one could argue they can limit downtime for the rest of the aiplane by just popping in a new module and going, but there are lots of things going on that mean the aircraft needs some downtime on the ground: refueling, loading cargo, simple maintenance, preflight checks... Not really clear what problem is being solved and seems to create lots of new problems (airports will also freak out... They hated the A380 and changes required to accommodate that bloated thing). Seems like the sort of thing companies patent because they have lots of lawyers sitting around looking for something to do rather that this actually being a meaningful innovation.

lumberjack 11y ago
It's probably just a "shower thought" they are patenting just in case. Big corps do that a lot, maybe just to keep their lawyers busy. Besides what you mentioned one also needs to factor in how many times small contingencies happen that are resolved in that wasted time, while the passengers are boarding.
_Codemonkeyism 11y ago
Now: Plane arrives, docks, people get out, cabin cleaned, new people get in, plane starts. Then: Plan arrives, docks, container is lifted, new container is put in, plane starts. Reduces turn around time for plane. Depends on size of plane. (New) Container is boarded while plane is still in the air. (Old) Container is unboarded while plane starts. Container is cleaned while plane is in the air.
mikeash 11y ago
I've had a similar idea for a while. In my version, the passenger module includes the seats and floor but not the walls, which remain part of the plane. If you could do it this way (I'm sure it would be a great engineering challenge to make it work) then you could load and unload the modules virtually instantaneously because people could just go out the sides. Each row would basically be independent.
- JoshTriplett 11y ago
  Good idea. One practical challenge: you have to make sure nobody (including small children who don't listen to directions like "don't stick your arms out") gets hurt when getting moved next to the walls. Also, if you don't have the walls attached to the module, then you'll have a challenge including the ceiling, and the overhead luggage racks.

lumberjack 11y ago

It's probably just a "shower thought" they are patenting just in case. Big corps do that a lot, maybe just to keep their lawyers busy. Besides what you mentioned one also needs to factor in how many times small contingencies happen that are resolved in that wasted time, while the passengers are boarding.

_Codemonkeyism 11y ago

Now: Plane arrives, docks, people get out, cabin cleaned, new people get in, plane starts. Then: Plan arrives, docks, container is lifted, new container is put in, plane starts. Reduces turn around time for plane. Depends on size of plane. (New) Container is boarded while plane is still in the air. (Old) Container is unboarded while plane starts. Container is cleaned while plane is in the air.

mikeash 11y ago

I've had a similar idea for a while. In my version, the passenger module includes the seats and floor but not the walls, which remain part of the plane. If you could do it this way (I'm sure it would be a great engineering challenge to make it work) then you could load and unload the modules virtually instantaneously because people could just go out the sides. Each row would basically be independent.

JoshTriplett 11y ago
Good idea. One practical challenge: you have to make sure nobody (including small children who don't listen to directions like "don't stick your arms out") gets hurt when getting moved next to the walls. Also, if you don't have the walls attached to the module, then you'll have a challenge including the ceiling, and the overhead luggage racks.