ETOPS & APU Operation?

[80/20]

Is it a common corporate procedure to operate the APU during ETOPS phase of flight?

 

[CL600Pilot]

ETOPS?? What's that? Must be one of them thar airline things!!

Seriously - not that I've heard of. In all of the jets I've flown (with the exception of the CRJ) the APU won't even operate at cruise altitudes.



CL

 

[Hubie]

We can run the APU up to FL450 for electrical with minor limitations and use bleed air for pressurization or for an assisted air start up to FL300, but to answer your question no we don’t.

 

[80/20]

Thanks for the info guys!

Let me share the background for the question:
First - you are right it is probably just an airline requirement - for Extended range operations with two-engined aeroplanes (ETOPS). It requires that the APU must be running, as an alternate electrical source, when you are far away from an enroute alternate. Typically over the ocean or in the Arctic. A cold APU can be very difficult to start at altitude. It is also required by manuals such as Boeing NG (BBJ). I had a friend, who just started to fly BBJ oceanic flights, ask me because he was not happy with the procedure to leave it off. I guess the actual requirements are FAR 121 & JAR-OPS which may not apply to corporate flights?

 

[mobs]

We(121 ops) do not run the APU in fact for west bound flights it can be MEL back to a mx base. Also we can have a gen inop and run the APU. This is for both the 767 and A 330. Inop APU is 120min. ETOPs only,not 180 min.

 

[Computer Geek]

APU's in modern Ultra long Range airplanes have heaters on the APU battery and various other components... so getting it started after your 10+ hour flight at FL450 should not be a problem.


CG

 

[fokkerjet]

Think again Just because APU is suppose to start doesn't mean it will when you want it!