Method for reducing aircraft turnaround time by improving ramp safety

A method for maximizing safety in an airport ramp area where multiple aircraft, ground vehicles, and people are moving into, within, and out of the ramp area and simultaneously minimizing turnaround time of aircraft traveling into and out of the ramp area to unload and load passengers and cargo, comprising:

• a. at an airport with a ramp area having entry and exit locations and parking locations for aircraft and boundaries defining ground hazard zones that limit presence of unauthorized persons and vehicles, equipping aircraft to move into, within, and out of the ramp area independently without operating aircraft engines and without assistance from tow vehicles by providing at least one landing gear drive wheel powered by a drive motor controllable by a pilot or cockpit crew to move the aircraft;
• b. driving the aircraft through a ramp area entry location to one of the parking locations with only the controllable powered drive motor without hazards from jet blast and engine ingestion from the aircraft as the aircraft is driven into and within the ramp area;
• c. unloading passengers from both forward and rear access doors and stair ramps on opposite sides of the aircraft immediately after the aircraft stops at the parking location and loading passengers through the both forward and rear access doors and stair ramps on the opposite sides of the aircraft without delays caused by jet blast or engine ingestion;
• and
• d. driving the aircraft away from the parking location and through a ramp exit location with only the controllable powered drive motor without hazards from jet blast and engine ingestion from the aircraft as the aircraft is driven within and out of the ramp area.