Abstract: A system and method is provided for improving efficiency of aircraft gate services and reducing time spent by an aircraft parked parallel to an airport terminal wherein aircraft utilities and gate services provided during turnaround are supported by an arrangement of flexibly movable, service and utility-carrying extendable passenger boarding bridges that enable passenger and baggage exchange concurrently with connection of utilities and provision of gate services to the aircraft. Baggage transfer is facilitated by conveyors mounted on one or more loading bridges and designed to provide a direct connection between an aircraft and a terminal. Aircraft are maneuvered by a pilot into and out of a parallel parking location in a forward direction by an engines-off electric taxi system, enabling loading bridge, utility, and service connections to be made to multiple aircraft doors as soon as the aircraft reaches a parking location and then quickly disconnected upon departure.

Abstract: A method for monitoring an autonomous accelerated pushback process in an aircraft equipped with an engines-off taxi system is provided to maximize safety and facilitate the accelerated pushback process. The aircraft is equipped with a monitoring system including a number of different kinds of sensors and monitoring devices positioned to maximally monitor the aircraft's exterior ground environment and communicate the presence or absence of obstructions in the aircraft's path while the pilot is controlling the engines-off taxi system to drive the aircraft in reverse away from a terminal gate and then turn in place at a selected location before driving forward to a taxiway. The sensors and monitoring devices may be a combination of cameras, ultrasound, global positioning, radar, and LiDAR or LADAR devices, and proximity sensors located at varying heights adapted to continuously or intermittently scan or sweep the aircraft exterior and ground environment during aircraft ground movement.

Abstract: A method for accelerated power push back of an aircraft equipped with a pilot-controlled engines-off taxi system that drives the aircraft without reliance on the aircraft's main engines or tugs is provided. An aircraft is quickly and efficiently moved out of a gate where it is positioned in a nose-in orientation. The pilot controls the taxi system to drive the aircraft in reverse along a perpendicular path away from the terminal to a location where there is sufficient space for the aircraft to stop and turn, and the aircraft is turned and driven in a forward direction to a takeoff runway. Pilot reliance on ground personnel guidance during push back maneuvers is minimized by providing a monitoring system designed to monitor gate and ramp areas around the aircraft in any visibility or environmental conditions and provide feedback to the pilot.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for improving efficiency of aircraft gate services and reducing time spent by an aircraft parked parallel to an airport terminal wherein aircraft utilities and gate services provided during turnaround are supported by an arrangement of flexibly movable, service and utility-carrying extendable passenger boarding bridges that enable passenger and baggage exchange concurrently with connection of utilities and provision of gate services to the aircraft. Aircraft are maneuvered by a pilot into and out of a parallel parking location in a forward direction by an engines-off electric taxi system that does not rely on the use of aircraft main engines to drive the aircraft, enabling loading bridge, utility, and service connections to be made to multiple aircraft doors as soon as the aircraft arrives at a parking space and then quickly disconnected upon departure.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable and executable instructions are provided for mapping application dependencies. Mapping application dependencies can include defining an application model with a number of application dependencies that enables an application to run and defining a platform model that defines a number of capabilities that are provided by a server. Mapping application dependencies can also include creating a topology model that maps the application model to the platform model at runtime by mapping the number of application dependencies to the number of capabilities while the application remains independent from the server.

Abstract: A training system and method for operating aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means during independent ground travel is provided. The system and method of the present invention is designed specifically to train pilots, ground personnel, and air traffic control to move an aircraft safely and efficiently on the ground during taxi and pushback using the aircraft's non-engine drive means to propel the aircraft independently during ground travel. Simulations and procedures for training pilots and ramp personnel in the conduct of pushback operations and forward taxi with an aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means are also provided.

Abstract: A method for reducing airline fleet carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions and fees associated with the emission of greenhouse gases is provided. The method is implemented by equipping at least a substantial portion or all of the aircraft in an airline's fleet with onboard wheel drive means capable of translating torque through aircraft wheels and controllable to move the aircraft on the ground independently without complete reliance on the aircraft's engines or the use of external tow vehicles. One or more drive wheels, each of which may be powered by onboard electric, hydraulic, or other wheel drive means, are controllable to move each aircraft efficiently during ground travel without increasing carbon emissions.

Abstract: A method for reducing maintenance and increasing the effective life of an aircraft's landing gear, thereby increasing the aircraft's flight and landing cycles is provided. The present method eliminates adverse stresses and forces produced on landing gear components by the operation of a tow vehicle to tow the aircraft on the ground by providing an onboard wheel driver that is powered to drive at least one of the aircraft's nose wheels or main wheels to move the aircraft on the ground. Movement of the aircraft on the ground is controlled by the operation of the driver-powered drive wheel, eliminating the possibility of damage to landing gear components associated with tug operation.

Abstract: A method is provided for increasing the number of takeoff and landing slots and increasing gate capacity at airports with slot controls, including airports that are constrained from operation by curfews that limit the hours when aircraft can operate. The present method is intended to be used in connection with an aircraft that is equipped with onboard wheel drive means capable of translating torque through aircraft wheels and controllable to move the aircraft independently on the ground quietly and efficiently to a runway for takeoff without reliance on the aircraft's engines or the use of external tow vehicles.

Abstract: A method (300) of migrating artifacts between service-oriented architecture repositories is provided herein. The method (300) includes receiving (302) a request to export an artifact from a first repository. The artifact comprises metadata associated with a service-oriented architecture. Additionally, the method includes retrieving (306) data from one or more aggregated relationships of the artifact. The method also includes packaging the retrieved data into (314) a data store comprising the selected data.