US Patent 10011368 Aircraft staircase protection system

A system and method for protecting an aircraft staircase having a plurality of steps positioned between two sides comprises a step cover configured to be removably coupled to the plurality of steps, a first side cover configured to drape over and be removably coupled to a first one of the sides, and a second side cover configured to drape over and be removably coupled to a second one of the sides, the step cover, the first side cover and the second side cover comprising a lightweight, flexible material. A hood is removably coupled to the first and second side covers or to the staircase to cover and temporarily block access to the staircase.