Aircraft cabin egress

A method for exiting a crew rest area located in an overhead area in an aircraft comprising:

• opening a hatch that closes an opening in the crew rest area;
• moving an egress apparatus from a closed state to an open state, wherein the egress apparatus is configured to direct a person moving on the egress apparatus from the opening to a passenger cabin in the aircraft when the egress apparatus is in the open state;
• and
• moving through the opening and onto the egress apparatus in the open state to the passenger cabin without entering a passenger suite separated from the passenger cabin by one or more walls and doors;
• wherein the egress apparatus comprises a number of linkages;
• wherein the number of linkages is configured to move a lower panel downward and outward from the opening;
• wherein an upper panel rotates downward about a hinge structure;
• wherein an upper surface of the upper panel and an upper surface of the lower panel form a ramp surface extending from the opening when the apparatus is in the open state;
• wherein the upper panel is configured to be flush with and form part of a floor of the overhead area when the apparatus is in the closed state;
• and
• wherein the number of linkages are one or more of elongated bars and elongated rods that are able to support the apparatus in the open state as a person moves over the ramp surface.

An apparatus comprising:

• an upper panel comprising a first end of the upper panel, a second end of the upper panel, an upper surface of the upper panel, and a lower surface of the upper panel, wherein the first end of the upper panel is connected by a hinge structure at an edge of an opening in an overhead area in an aircraft;
• a lower panel comprising a first end of the lower panel, a second end of the lower panel, an upper surface of the lower panel, and a lower surface of the lower panel, wherein the second end of the upper panel rests on the upper surface of the lower panel;
• and
• a number of linkages, wherein the number of linkages is configured to move the lower panel downward and outward from the opening as the apparatus moves from a closed state to an open state, wherein the upper panel rotates downward about the hinge structure as the lower panel moves downward and outward, wherein the upper surface of the upper panel and the upper surface of the lower panel form a ramp surface extending from the opening when the apparatus is in the open state, and wherein the upper panel is configured to be flush with and form part of a floor of the overhead area when the apparatus is in the closed state;
• wherein the number of linkages are one or more of elongated bars and elongated rods that are able to support the apparatus in the open state as a person moves over the ramp surface.