Modular and portable accessibility lift system for aircraft and other vehicles

A system for facilitating boarding and disembarkation from an aircraft, comprising:

• two or more modular tracks configured to be temporarily and securely mounted onto aircraft stairs;
• a powered lift unit (PLU) movably mounted on the two or more modular tracks, wherein the PLU configured to counteract an angle of the aircraft stairs to provide a level surface;
• a hoist mechanism integrated within the PLU, wherein the hoist mechanism includes at least one lifting cable;
• a limit switch operably connected to the hoist mechanism, wherein the limit switch configured to halt hoist operation upon reaching a defined endpoint;
• and
• a redundant cable routing such that a failure of one cable allows continued operation of the PLU.

A method for providing accessible boarding and disembarkation to elevated entry points, comprising:

• deploying a modular track system onto a stair structure;
• mounting a powered lift unit on the modular track system;
• attaching the modular track system to handrails of the stair structure and a top stair using adjustable braces and brackets;
• operating a hoist integrated within the powered lift unit, wherein a cable and pulley mechanism lifts or lowers a passenger platform;
• automatically stopping a lifting operation of the powered lift unit when a limit switch is triggered by a ferrule on the cable.