Method and apparatus for trafficking people through airports or like transit terminals

摘要

An improved system for facilitating the movement of passengers at a transit terminal comprising a terminal building having a plurality of passenger transfer zones disposed one above the other. Each transfer zone may include a platform with a recessed area at the edge of the building, an airplane positionable at a distance from the building which has a door with a threshold across which passengers may move and an elongated walkway which has a first end and a second end. Positionable with its first end adjacent to the airplane with its second end positionable adjacent to a preselected one of the transfer zones. Each end has a supporting structure therebetween for retaining the supported end at one of a plurality of elevational positions whereby the first end may be placed at a height corresponding to the threshold of the airplane independent of the height of such threshold and the second end may be placed at a height corresponding to one of the transfer zones. This allows for the movement of passengers between the airplane and the transit terminal independent of the height of the threshold of the airplane or the height of the preselected transfer zone.