As a frequent business traveler, I too spent many endless, sleepless nights aboard planes on intercontinental flights. Thinking of a way to better this situation, I had an idea of a design for commercial aircraft passenger cabins that can provide every passenger with a fully reclining seat and far more freedom to move about, without reducing the aircraft’s passenger capacity significantly, if at all.

Although this solution was conceived for airplane cabins, it can be implemented in train coach-class as well.

To take a close look at it, check out this website and tell me what you think:
www.airbornehotel.com

There were Military Sleepers in use during WWII that had three and possibly even four tiers of bunks; however, "public acceptance" was not exactly an issue.

However, there are three tiered bunk sleepers used on European trains today; while I defer to others on this point, I would simply guess that the public acceptance of those cars has significantly declined. Any U.S. railroad that invested in cars since WWII with open sleeping accomodations was not exactly rewarded. Amtrak has never operated a sleeper with open accomodations.

However, reviewing your proposal would suggest that you are untilizing space more efficiently than the existing 'sleeper seat" arrangements offered by airlines in First and Business Class overseas flights.

Thank you for your kind reply and interest in the ABH concept.

Yes, I am aware of the three-tiered bunk sleepers used on European trains today; however, I feel I must say that apart from having three tiers in economy-class the ABH design is not similar to this.

For trains the best thing might be to replace existing coach seats with two-tier ABH double seat-bed modular units; that is modules-aisle-modules.

Thank again for writing and for your good wishes; if you have any other doubts or comments I’d be glad to answer them.

Cheers!

Surfer:

Regarding safety and evacuations:

All ABH modules will have safety rails to prevent passengers from falling off. To further assure passenger safety, each seat-bed will have a three-point adjustable seat belt that the passenger can have adjusted while seated or while sleeping.
In an emergency evacuation, only passengers in top-level modules will need to make use of the ladders to abandon their modules, the rest can simply walk out of their modules. Passenger manuals will include precise directions for emergency procedures, leaving the use of ladders only for passengers who need them to abandon their modules. Additionally, clear signs will be in place all along the cabin to indicate the way to the nearest exit.
I am positive that the ABH system’s unique three-aisle design—50% more aisle space—is an enormous advantage in case of an evacuation, simply because it means one third less people per aisle. In present cabin configurations, it is not possible to leap over seats in order to advance towards the front or rear of the plane, so this leaves just the two aisles for evacuation. Moreover, the design of ABH modules permits passengers to move across the cabin—in three levels—and reach other aisles in case one of them has an obstruction.

Source is Wayner's digest book from the Pullman News that he put out back around 1970.

Regards, John

quote:

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Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman:

(snip)

There were Military Sleepers in use during WWII that had three and possibly even four tiers of bunks; however, "public acceptance" was not exactly an issue.

(snip)

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I think its a good concept, and perhaps some surveying should be done on board these trains (Particularlly Coaches) to get a really good idea.

From the diagrams it looks like one must put one's legs straight or almost straight out all the time, as there does not appear to be any way to put one's feet down. And less agile people may find it difficult to get in and out. Generally, it looks awkward. More like a cage than a seat.

Another thing I was wondering about was windows. Would you have three tiers of windows on the fuselage, or must one be content to look at the wall through the entire flight?

And like atsf3751 I see some resemblance to the old slumbercoaches. But those had everyone on the same level during the daytime. That might be more practical for the airplanes, too.

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Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy

The Del Monte Club Car

It doesn’t look awkward, it looks different.

In an ABH economy-class cabin, there are 10% special accommodations—next to the windows—and 30% of the remaining modules are at floor level, which would give a total of 40% of modules that could be occupied by elderly or disabled passengers, and this is without counting the middle tier seats, which are not high at all. In business-class cabins, this percentage of floor level seats would be around 57%.

About windows, not many people flying today are next to a window or even near one, and must be content to look at the back of the seat in front of them, which I might add is much closer to their face than the baggage bin in an ABH seat. Thinking of this we have also proposed a virtual ‘window’ in every seat, which is featured at the end of the concept section of the ABH website.

The only resemblance between this and the systems used in trains—which were also used in planes at some point—are the tiers, other than that it’s a completely different design. For one thing, it permits far more passenger capacity, and it also permits every passenger to adjust his/her seat into a bed independently and without crew assistance.