Originally Posted by
DLERT
What ever the situation you don't want to be flying around on a battery.
All the comfort features are turned off. All remaining power is directed
to the cockpit for radio - navigation and instruments to find a safe place
to set down ASAP. Someone with a bit more experience maybe could
provide an answer if the APU (Auxillary Power Unit) can be started in the
air to provide a reserve source of basic electrics ?
I flew into ANC on a 707 the last half hour was on battery * no fun !
It's been awhile since I studied 767 systems, but I believe the following to be correct. I'm sure someone will chime in if I'm off here.
The four generators on the 767 are the two engine generators, the APU generator and the RAT.
The APU generator was most likely the one the aircraft left with inoperative; it's not a Minimum Equipment List item for TATL 120 min. ETOPS. One of the engine generators probably failed in flight, leaving the aircraft with one engine generator and the RAT generator (Ram Air Turbine).
The diversion was appropriate, as was the original decision to dispatch the aircraft (the APU can't be used at altitude inflight anyway). It sounds like good service recovery here given the circumstances.
The 767 is a damn fine airplane age notwithstanding as is its sister the 757. I don't hesitate to get on board either one.