Terminal docking port for an operational ground support system
A terminal ( 14 ) for an airport ( 13 ) includes multiple servicing levels ( 82, 102 ). A ground support service sub-system is coupled to the servicing levels ( 82, 102 ) and is configured to mate with a service opening ( 26 ) of the aircraft ( 12 ). The ground support service sub-system provides services to the aircraft ( 12 ) through the service opening ( 26 ) and on the servicing levels ( 82, 102 ).
1. A terminal for an airport comprising:
a plurality of servicing levels;
at least one ground support service sub-system coupled to said plurality of servicing levels and configured to mate with at least one service opening of at least one aircraft; and
a terminal carry-on system comprising:
a carry-on loading area comprising an area located on a terminal level of said terminal;
at least one carry-on module comprising a plurality of carry-on cargo compartments for loading carry-on cargo;
at least one carry-on module elevator for raising and lowering the at least one carry-on module between said terminal level and a tarmac level;
at least one carry-on module conveyor, located on the tarmac level, for conveying said at least one carry-on module between said terminal and an aircraft;
said at least one ground support service sub-system providing a plurality of services to said at least one aircraft through said at least one service opening and on said plurality of servicing levels.
2. A terminal as in claim 1 comprising a docking port that is configured to couple to a nose of said at least one aircraft.
3. A terminal as in claim 1 comprising a docking port that is configured to couple to a side of said at least one aircraft.
4. A terminal as in claim 1 wherein said at least one ground support service subsystem is selected from at least one of a passenger ingress/egress system, a cargo ingress/egress system, an primary service system, an secondary service system, a security system, and a health and maintenance monitoring system.
5. A terminal as in claim 4 wherein said primary service system is selected from at least one of a fuel system, a power system, an electrical power system, a water system, an air system, and a brake cooling system.
6. A terminal as in claim 4 wherein said secondary service system provides services selected from at least one of cabin cleaning services, galley services, lavatories, and trash services to said at least one aircraft.
7. A terminal as in claim 1 comprising a floor for passenger ingress and egress to and from said at least one aircraft.
8. A terminal as in claim 1 comprising a floor for cargo ingress and egress to and from said at least one aircraft.
9. A terminal as in claim 1 further comprising a first plurality of primary service couplers that mate with a second plurality of primary service couplers on said aircraft.
10. A terminal as in claim 1 further comprising a cargo elevator platform.
11. A terminal as in claim 1 further comprising an aircraft terminal mating system.
12. A terminal as in claim 11 wherein said aircraft terminal mating system is in the form of a machine vision technology system.
13. A terminal as in claim 11 wherein said aircraft terminal mating system comprises a docking coupler.
14. A terminal as in claim 11 wherein said aircraft terminal mating system comprises a global positioning system.
15. A terminal as in claim 11 wherein said aircraft terminal mating system comprises a precision guidance system that follows a guideline in mating said at least one aircraft to said at least one airport interface terminal docking port.
16. A terminal as in claim 1 wherein said at least one airport interface terminal docking port comprises at least one terminal for servicing a non-nose opening aircraft.
17. A terminal as in claim 1 wherein said at least one airport interface terminal docking port comprises a terminal carry-on system.
18. A terminal as in claim 1 further comprising at least one bar code reader that reads bar codes on cargo transported to and from the at least one aircraft.
19. A terminal as in claim 1 further comprises at least one cargo carousel.
20. A terminal for an airport as in claim 1 , wherein:
said at least one carry-on module comprises at least one cubbyhole locker for storing passenger carry-on luggage.
21. A terminal for an airport as in claim 20 , wherein:
said at least one carry-on module further comprises at least one cloak closet.
22. A terminal for an airport as in claim 20 , wherein:
said at least one carry-on module further comprises a bar-code for being checked by a security system during transport of said at least one carry-on module to said aircraft.