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Too cheap to run APU......

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pushntin

pushntin

Gear Up, Flaps 10.
Joined
Jan 13, 2005
Posts
96
Talk about people cutting costs. I saw a GIII in PDK this week running off of ground power instead of the APU. Guess that 24 gallons an hour was just killing their operating cost.
 
Or it could be past inspection. Ours is comming up next month, but we are no where near time limits.
 
apu

Years ago I worked for a pt 91 operation in MKE that had a citation. One of my first trips with them I fired up the apu just like i had done for 1500 hours before with a previous operator. The Chief Pilot comes running out of the hanger to the plane like I am on fire or something. He says "What are you doing?" "With what?" I replied. "The APU - we don't use the APU".

Now keep in mind this company did a bunch of trips to Phoenix - think hot. So in the end, their pax get on hot dark airplanes. They also in their infinite wisdom did not use electric window heat because, "the windows are real expensive".

Whatever.
 
Cat3C said:
Years ago I worked for a pt 91 operation in MKE that had a citation. One of my first trips with them I fired up the apu just like i had done for 1500 hours before with a previous operator. The Chief Pilot comes running out of the hanger to the plane like I am on fire or something. He says "What are you doing?" "With what?" I replied. "The APU - we don't use the APU".

Now keep in mind this company did a bunch of trips to Phoenix - think hot. So in the end, their pax get on hot dark airplanes. They also in their infinite wisdom did not use electric window heat because, "the windows are real expensive".

Whatever.
Click to expand...


just like

"dont use the landing lights"

they will break the bank haha! these guys jump over dollars to save pennies...
 
Our company seems to like us to use the Ground Power to start the APU when we can on our CE750s. They think it prolongs the battery life. Don't know if this is true or not, but I usually follow orders when I can.
 
I remember seeing young pilots kicking back in the Hawker at Scenic in Las Vegas, listening to CD's on the entertainment system, with the door open and the APU/ AC running 'cause the FBO was boring. (Before IPODS).
 
LOL, usually head to hotel, but occasionally it can't be helped. Sitting on our G550 is by far a better choice than a FBO crew lounge.
 
Cat3C said:
Years ago I worked for a pt 91 operation in MKE that had a citation. One of my first trips with them I fired up the apu just like i had done for 1500 hours before with a previous operator. The Chief Pilot comes running out of the hanger to the plane like I am on fire or something. He says "What are you doing?" "With what?" I replied. "The APU - we don't use the APU".

Now keep in mind this company did a bunch of trips to Phoenix - think hot. So in the end, their pax get on hot dark airplanes. They also in their infinite wisdom did not use electric window heat because, "the windows are real expensive".

Whatever.
Click to expand...

Ha ha! One of the 135 operators I worked for took the sunscreens out of a king air so they wouldn't get broken. Guess what? They lost them! Some people just make you wonder...
 
apu

APU's are made to run, and the newer ones are very cost efficient. When your customer or owner is three hours late, updated every thirty minutes, you run the apu, end of story, especially in places like Phoenix or Riyadh in June. The money starts to flow as soon as the thrust levers go forward. Some people got the wrong idea years ago, and they have never been enlightened. But at the same time, if there is a mechanical with the apu. the GPU is your only option.
 
I guess I don't understand the "problem" of using ground power in lieu of the airplane's APU for electricity if there's no need to control the temperature in the cabin...especially if use of the GPU is free.

It saves a marginal amount of cost, and the GPU burns somewhat less fuel than an APU. Why isn't that a win-win?
 
The problem is that some judge others actions when they have no idea what the whole story is.

Another thought, if the GIII in question was under the canopy at Signature, it was courtesy. I love our APU, but under the canopy at PDK or even under the "Bra" at TPA, that thing is really loud.
 
What G apu isn't loud?

I mean when you can actually see the burner can you know there is no muffler.
 
ksu_aviator said:
I'd be happy to see anyone forgo the APU for the GPU. Those damn things are loud as hell!
Click to expand...

Yeah, but once you have one, it is one sweet sound. You can hardly hear it on the now heated and air conditioned flight deck while doing your preflight checks, even with the door open. It was 18 degrees the other morning, but nice and warm inside.
 
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A number of places have limits on how long the APU can be run, and at what hours.

As a rule, we don't operate APU's if ground power is available, by company policy.

The GTC's (APU's) on our C-130's would wake the dead. Literally. We didn't run them any more than we had to, either.
 
Sometimes people just cant seem to think "outside" the box.......

There could be 99 reasons why an APU was not being used. Why the he11 do you care anyhow? :confused: It isn't your aircraft to worry about. But whatever....The world is chock full of people that can't mind their own biznass.
 
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Cat3C said:
Um, I need it to start my air start engines
Click to expand...
Thank you, sir! I was wondering when someone was going to mention that. I'm sure someone on here will tell you that you can use a huffer cart instead of the APU. It really is silly. We all have an opinion I guess. Our G has an APU, and we use it for what gulfstream designed it to do. I can remember the days of flying LR60s that the APU was a sore spot with other departments. Instead of being too cheap to use it, the MX staffs were just too lazy to fix it and put out guidelines on its proper operation. The D.O. before me wouldnt stand for that type of sh!t, and our APUs worked and made it to overhaul because of guidelines on operating it. These 60 operators who don't use it cause it's "broke" make me sick. If the MX guys can't or are unwilling to fix it, they should be let go.
 
And as for climate control can't a GPU give you that as well?? Sorry I have only flown Learjets and they have Freon AC and an electric Aux heater.
 

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