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APU SOP's?

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Captain4242

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 25, 2004
Posts
127
Our company recently started flying aircraft with APU's.
I'm wondering what other pilots do while using the APU...is one pilot required to stay with the aircraft? Or is it acceptable to leave the plane alone for a period of time while in the FBO? Then, how long is too long?
Thanks
 
Our company recently started flying aircraft with APU's.
I'm wondering what other pilots do while using the APU...is one pilot required to stay with the aircraft? Or is it acceptable to leave the plane alone for a period of time while in the FBO? Then, how long is too long?
Thanks

Check your AFM...it will tell you if it can be used/run while unattended, most likely for fire extinguishing reasons.

Run times that are too long are based on how much fuel you want to burn, how much your Director of Maintenance bitches at you, etc. We usually fire it up 30 minutes prior to departure.
 
Our company recently started flying aircraft with APU's.
I'm wondering what other pilots do while using the APU...is one pilot required to stay with the aircraft? Or is it acceptable to leave the plane alone for a period of time while in the FBO? Then, how long is too long?
Thanks

Leave it unattended? as in unlocked, open and running with nobody there?

:eek:

APU or not, we dont leave any unlocked aircraft unattended. We do train our FA's how to shut it down incase of a fire (pilots outside, etc)

As far as usage - its there for a reason! - :)

We dont sit at FBOs, we dont do many day trips...but if so we will run it for hours if needed. Typical fire up is 2hrs prior to pax show....as F/As need to prep etc.

AHHHPOOO...no need to fight the frac guys for the barca loungers anymore.

;)
 
Our company recently started flying aircraft with APU's.
I'm wondering what other pilots do while using the APU...is one pilot required to stay with the aircraft? Or is it acceptable to leave the plane alone for a period of time while in the FBO? Then, how long is too long?
Thanks

We have an arrangement where our passengers call on the way for departure, only then do we start an apu. That is usually a minimum of 15 minutes prior to departure. Saves wear and tear on the unit plus the fuel burn. We only leave the apu unattended with the pilots on the outside unloading bags. Always within ear shot and then only for a few minutes.
 
I'd be interested in learning if any operators have APU SOP's specifically written to reduce maintenance costs. For example, will you operate with only one ECU (pack) operating on the ground to keep APU EGT's low? Or if you're flying a short repo leg (under an hour) and airborne APU ops is approved, will you leave the APU running in an effort to reduce the number of start cycles?

AHHHPOOO...no need to fight the frac guys for the barca loungers anymore.;)

Hey G200 - we trashed all the barcaloungers a long time ago. I think I'll go expend some carbon onset debits so that I can take a nap in a nice, cool airplane. Maybe even watch a movie. 5 hours to departure and with the "AHHHPOOO" the world is my oyster. :D
 
Hey G200 - we trashed all the barcaloungers a long time ago. I think I'll go expend some carbon onset debits so that I can take a nap in a nice, cool airplane. Maybe even watch a movie. 5 hours to departure and with the "AHHHPOOO" the world is my oyster. :D


Its better than owning a 7-11!

:laugh:
 
Am I ghetto for asking for a GPU instead of firing up an APU . . . Afterall if im gonna pay 100-300 ramp fee for you parking my jet I want some free stuff (GPU, Cookies, popcorn...)
 
Since when is a GPU free?

and yes it is ghetto.
 

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