ALTERNATIVE AIRCRAFT CONFIGURATIONS FOR FLIGHT CREW AREAS

• US 20200130804A1
• Filed: 10/24/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2018
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Colletti, Brian Paul, Banda, Manuel G.
• Application Number:
  US16/169,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20200130804A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/10 Bulkheads
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1407 Doors; surrounding frames
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1461 Structures of doors or surrounding frames
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1484 Windows B64C1/1492 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/02 Toilet fittings of general application A47K
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0601 Arrangement of seats for non-standard seating layouts, e.g. seats staggered horizontally or vertically, arranged in an angled or fishbone layout, or facing in other directions than the direction of flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0691 specially adapted for cabin crew
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0076 for crew members, e.g. for sleeping during flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0015 Devices specially adapted for the protection against criminal attack, e.g. anti-hijacking systems

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide for flight crew areas onboard aircraft that are only accessible via a door to the exterior of the aircraft. The flight crew areas may be included within the same section of the fuselage of the aircraft as the aircraft cabin, or may be included within a different section of the fuselage. One embodiment comprises an aircraft that includes an aircraft cabin and a flight crew area. The aircraft cabin is configured for passenger seating. The flight crew area includes a door opening to an exterior of the aircraft that is sized for a person, and a cockpit that is only accessible by a flight crew via the door.

Claims

1. An aircraft, comprising:

an aircraft cabin that is configured for passenger seating; and

a flight crew area inaccessible from the aircraft cabin, the flight crew area including;

a cockpit; and

a door opening directly to an exterior of the aircraft that is sized for a person,

wherein the flight crew area is only accessible via the door.

2. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein:

the flight crew area further includes a rest area for a flight crew.

3. The aircraft of claim 2, wherein:

the rest area includes beds for the flight crew.

4. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein:

the flight crew area further includes a lavatory for a flight crew.

5. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein:

the cockpit further includes a window to the exterior of the aircraft.

6. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein:

the cockpit does not include a window to the exterior of the aircraft.

7. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein:

the flight crew area and the aircraft cabin are both positioned within an upper section of a fuselage of the aircraft.

8. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein:

the aircraft cabin is positioned within an upper section of a fuselage of the aircraft; and

the flight crew area is positioned within a lower section of the fuselage.

9. The aircraft of claim 8, wherein:

the aircraft cabin includes an observation window that is proximate to a front of the aircraft.

10. An aircraft, comprising:

a flight crew area, including;

a cockpit that includes a door that opens directly to an exterior of the aircraft; and

a lavatory accessible from the cockpit,

wherein the cockpit is only accessible via the door.

11. The aircraft of claim 10, wherein:

the flight crew area further includes a rest area for a flight crew.

12. The aircraft of claim 11, wherein:

the rest area includes beds for the flight crew.

13. The aircraft of claim 10, wherein:

the cockpit further includes a window to the exterior of the aircraft.

14. The aircraft of claim 10, wherein:

the cockpit does not include a window to the exterior of the aircraft.

15. The aircraft of claim 10, wherein:

the flight crew area is positioned below a lower section of a fuselage of the aircraft.

16. An aircraft, comprising:

a cockpit that includes a door that opens directly to an exterior of the aircraft; and

a lavatory accessible only from the cockpit,

wherein the cockpit is only accessible on the aircraft via the door.

17. The aircraft of claim 16, further comprising:

a rest area for a flight crew that is only accessible from the cockpit.

18. The aircraft of claim 17, wherein:

the rest area includes beds for the flight crew.

19. The aircraft of claim 16, wherein:

the cockpit does not include a window to the exterior of the aircraft.

20. The aircraft of claim 16, wherein:

cockpit is positioned below an aircraft cabin of the aircraft.