AA flights with no air conditioning on ground becoming regular occurrence?
Jul 16, 2019, 7:23 am
#16
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 12
It's even hotter. The electronics and lighting throw off a ton of heat as well. The highest I've seen was 108*. Yes it absolutely sucks. Especially when you keep the airplane for several legs. The Airbus wasn't bad because it would cool off quickly, but the 80 and 737 are absolutely miserable until you get up to cruise altitude.
Jul 16, 2019, 7:47 am
#17
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Does Non Rev count?
Posts: 588
Jul 16, 2019, 7:48 am
#18
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Plat Pro, DL GM, Marriott LTP
Posts: 563
For ground truth, this is not unique to AA as I’ve sat on overly hot aircraft with multiple airlines, both US and foreign. In fact, it’s not unique to the airline industry. Most major hotel chains require motion and all doors/windows closed for the A/C to operate to save on energy, maintenance and of course money so there’s no reason to target AA in this particular instance.
Jul 16, 2019, 10:12 am
#20
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,968
Jul 16, 2019, 12:48 pm
#21
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 170
This has been an issue at DCA for a few summers now. I think its a mix of ground crews not having a checklist (or not following), the ground AC units being broken (aka MWAA's problem), and obviously, not wanting to run the APUs... although all airlines do this. Can't recall exactly, but pretty sure Delta has a reminder on the exterior Gate signs at ATL, 'HOOK UP, TURN OFF APU.'
Do Pilots need to flip any switches in the cockpit in order for the plane to use ground AC?
Do Pilots need to flip any switches in the cockpit in order for the plane to use ground AC?
Jul 16, 2019, 2:12 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,015
Sitting on the tarmac after pushback with no a/c on. Must be 110 in this cabin.
Hold on pilot just came on the horn. Suspect he’s going to tell us once we get up it will be cooler.
“Ah folks we have a light that came on in the cockpit. We are going to try to find a gate to go back to and get a mechanic to look at it “.
Bravo AA! Yet another weekly flight delayed to mx.
Hold on pilot just came on the horn. Suspect he’s going to tell us once we get up it will be cooler.
“Ah folks we have a light that came on in the cockpit. We are going to try to find a gate to go back to and get a mechanic to look at it “.
Bravo AA! Yet another weekly flight delayed to mx.
Jul 17, 2019, 10:09 am
#23
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 12
This has been an issue at DCA for a few summers now. I think its a mix of ground crews not having a checklist (or not following), the ground AC units being broken (aka MWAA's problem), and obviously, not wanting to run the APUs... although all airlines do this. Can't recall exactly, but pretty sure Delta has a reminder on the exterior Gate signs at ATL, 'HOOK UP, TURN OFF APU.'
Do Pilots need to flip any switches in the cockpit in order for the plane to use ground AC?
Do Pilots need to flip any switches in the cockpit in order for the plane to use ground AC?
So there are straight low pressure conditioning units at jetways and towed around by tug. You can also use the air start carts that normally supply high pressure air to start the engines, and they will run the packs as well, which would require turning the packs on.
However you are fighting ground grew hooking it up incorrectly and equipment issues that normally result in massive kinks in the line. Most of the conditioned air coming out of the units doesn't even get to the airplane. AA invested in ground start carts that actually run off an APU instead of diesel engines and they do an outstanding job, but they only have a handful at each hub.