A hinged ladder for ascending to and descending from a cockpit of an aircraft and method of using the ladder for access to and egress from the cockpit. The ladder is suspended from an anchor which supports the combined weight of the ladder and a user. The ladder comprises a plurality of rung plates connected by hinges. The rung plates have respective holes to accept the foot of a user. In use, the ladder is suspended from an anchor in use, and extends longitudinally. The ladder has a standoff to provide single point contact against a fuselage of the aircraft, preventing damage during use. The standoff may articulate outwardly from a rung plate about an X axis. The standoff may be braced by paired struts which articulate about respective Y axes, preventing collapse of the standoff. Each strut may be locked in position by a respective latch which articulates about a respective Z axis.

A hinged ladder for ascending to and descending from a cockpit of an aircraft and method of using the ladder for access to and egress from the cockpit. The ladder is suspended from an anchor which supports the combined weight of the ladder and a user. The ladder comprises a plurality of rung plates connected by hinges. The rung plates have respective holes to accept the foot of a user. In use, the ladder is suspended from an anchor in use, and extends longitudinally. The ladder has a standoff to provide single point contact against a fuselage of the aircraft, preventing damage during use. The standoff may articulate outwardly from a rung plate about an X axis. The standoff may be braced by paired struts which articulate about respective Y axes, preventing collapse of the standoff. Each strut may be locked in position by a respective latch which articulates about a respective Z axis.