Overview
ISO 7718-1:2025 - Aircraft - Passenger doors interface requirements for connection of passenger boarding bridge or passenger transfer vehicle - Part 1: Main deck doors - is the third edition international standard that specifies minimum dimensional and clear-space requirements around main-deck passenger doors on civil transport aircraft. The standard defines the unobstructed fuselage area and key door parameters required when an aircraft is intended to accept connection from existing passenger boarding bridges or passenger transfer vehicles. ISO 7718-1:2025 refines earlier requirements (replacing the 2016 edition) to be more precise while preserving interoperability with existing airport ground equipment.
Key Topics and Requirements
- Unobstructed fuselage area: A defined hatched area around the cabin door (see Figure 1 in the standard) represents the minimum unobstructed space that shall be kept clear of external features such as aerials, drains, pitot heads, sensors, strakes or access panels.
- Permitted features: Integral aircraft stairs are allowed within the unobstructed area only if they do not interfere with boarding-bridge connection or aircraft retraction. Small rainwater-diverting protrusions are permitted provided they are non-structural and do not impede boarding-bridge canopies.
- Fuselage radius: The cross-sectional radius within the unobstructed area should not be less than 1.6 m (63 in).
- Door sill height: The passenger door sill height during normal servicing or transit should be between 1.8 m (71 in) and 5.4 m (213 in) above ground.
- Key dimensional limits (from Figure 1):
- Maximum cabin door opening height: 2100 mm (82.7 in)
- Maximum cabin door width: 2850 mm (112.2 in)
- Minimum unobstructed width: 4800 mm (189.0 in)
- Minimum unobstructed height below door sill: 500 mm (19.7 in)
- Minimum unobstructed height above door sill: 3400 mm (133.8 in)
Note: ISO 7718-1:2025 is not applicable to existing aircraft models or derivative models entering service up to year 2000 with the same fuselage if those aircraft are expected to be compatible with ISO 16004.
Applications and Who Uses It
- Aircraft design engineers - to ensure new main-deck door designs are compatible with standard boarding bridges and transfer vehicles.
- Airport planners and terminal engineers - to assess aircraft compatibility and plan gate infrastructure.
- Passenger boarding bridge and ground‑support equipment manufacturers - to design aircraft-mating sections and no-interference zones.
- Ground handling and operations teams - to manage safe docking and prevent damage during boarding operations.
- Certification bodies and fleet managers - to evaluate retrofit or new-technology impacts on gate compatibility and operational cost.
Adherence to ISO 7718-1:2025 reduces risk of gate incompatibility, aircraft damage, and costly airport or equipment modifications.
Related Standards
- ISO 16004 - Aircraft ground equipment - Passenger boarding bridge or transfer vehicle - Interface requirements with aircraft doors
- SAE AS 6896 - Aircraft Markings for Ground Support Equipment Alignment
Keywords: ISO 7718-1:2025, passenger boarding bridge, passenger transfer vehicle, main deck doors, aircraft interface requirements, unobstructed space, door sill height, fuselage radius.
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