At gate ventilation
Aug 25, 2010 | 2:24 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ARN
Programs: EBG, Hertz Five Star, A-club Gold
Posts: 72
At gate ventilation
Maybe not the right forum as it is a general topic, but since I mainly fly SK I post here.
Why can't the ventilation in the planes run on electricity when the plane is "connected" to the gate? Every time you board a flight it is hot and the air is thick even when the outside temperature is rather moderate and no strong sunshine. As soon as they start the engines and the ventilation works you can se the relieve among all the pax. The suit is not the most comfortable garment then...
On my last flight we had to sit in the flight for some time, but luckily the FA:s opened all the doors and created a nice draft. But it didn't take more than two minutes after closing the doors until the cabin was hot and the air thick again. The flight was not fully loaded.
Please give us an aircraft that can run the ventilation on electricity from the gate!!
Why can't the ventilation in the planes run on electricity when the plane is "connected" to the gate? Every time you board a flight it is hot and the air is thick even when the outside temperature is rather moderate and no strong sunshine. As soon as they start the engines and the ventilation works you can se the relieve among all the pax. The suit is not the most comfortable garment then...
On my last flight we had to sit in the flight for some time, but luckily the FA:s opened all the doors and created a nice draft. But it didn't take more than two minutes after closing the doors until the cabin was hot and the air thick again. The flight was not fully loaded.
Please give us an aircraft that can run the ventilation on electricity from the gate!!
Aug 25, 2010 | 11:30 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: CPH
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Posts: 607
I would think it has something to do with safety. I remember seeing an Air Crash Investigation on National Geographic which was partly caused by sitting on the tarmac with the aircon running for a long time before taking off.
That will heat up the aircon system significantly and apparently that is (at least in that plane) sitting right below one of the fuel tanks.
I am just speculating though, but I'm sure someone knows the exact reason and will pass by and tell us
That will heat up the aircon system significantly and apparently that is (at least in that plane) sitting right below one of the fuel tanks.
I am just speculating though, but I'm sure someone knows the exact reason and will pass by and tell us
Aug 26, 2010 | 6:28 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: LPI
Programs: SK *B (?)
Posts: 362
However, you can hook up external air conditioning feeds to gate-side planes. They look like fat yellow hoses. I have no idea how common they are in our part of the world, though.
Aug 26, 2010 | 8:19 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Switzerland
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I would think it has something to do with safety. I remember seeing an Air Crash Investigation on National Geographic which was partly caused by sitting on the tarmac with the aircon running for a long time before taking off.
That will heat up the aircon system significantly and apparently that is (at least in that plane) sitting right below one of the fuel tanks.
I am just speculating though, but I'm sure someone knows the exact reason and will pass by and tell us
That will heat up the aircon system significantly and apparently that is (at least in that plane) sitting right below one of the fuel tanks.
I am just speculating though, but I'm sure someone knows the exact reason and will pass by and tell us
Check for same query... ^
Aug 26, 2010 | 9:18 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: EB*G, BT VIP
Posts: 770
lnixon is absolutely right. You can't do that on electricity. And often you need a cooled air, not just airflow. There are ground airconditioning units, however in Nothern parts of the planet they are not usually available in numbers AND they are expensive for airlines to use.
Aug 26, 2010 | 9:56 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2009
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Aug 26, 2010 | 1:50 pm
#8
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Last edited by daniel-andersson; Aug 26, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Aug 26, 2010 | 11:02 pm
#9
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
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Noted yesterday that SK didn't use APU on the ground and also didn't have external ventilation connected to their A321 at CPH yesterday 
Made it pretty cosy standing at the gate with 25C outside 
Talk about saving at the wrong spot.
Made it pretty cosy standing at the gate with 25C outside Talk about saving at the wrong spot.
Aug 27, 2010 | 1:55 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2007
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Don't know the details of it, but there are quite strict restrictions regarding APU use at gate in CPH
Last edited by Someone83; Aug 27, 2010 at 5:10 am
Aug 27, 2010 | 3:34 am
#11
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
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Originally Posted by CPH Env Report 2008
The noise impact from aircraft on the ground primarily
comes from engine run-ups, but the use of APUs also
contributes to the noise exposure. Most jet aircraft have
an APU, a small jet engine which produces power and
pressurised air for the aircraft when it is on the ground
and the main engines are turned off. To reduce noise, the
APU may only be used for five minutes before the aircraft
leaves the stand and five minutes after it arrives at the
stand. For the rest of the time, the aircraft must use the
power and ventilation facilities provided by the airport at
most stands. At 103 out of the 121 numbered stands at
Copenhagen Airport, we have installed stationary power
supply facilities for aircraft. At stands that do not have
these facilities, the aircraft can use a GPU (ground power
unit), which is a diesel or electrically powered generator
that emits considerably less noise than an APU. CPH made
regular inspections during the year to monitor the use of
APUs at the aircraft stands.
In 2008, 117 inspections were made to check the use of
APUs by aircraft; a representative selection of the airports
stands used for jet aircraft were inspected. In 75 cases, the
rules were complied with, whilst the conditions for use of
APUs were not complied with in 42 cases. Accordingly,
36% of the inspections showed violation of the rules. An
evaluation of the last four years of aircraft stand inspections
shows that stands with power and ventilation facilities
showed a decline in violations from 62% in 2005 to
13% in 2008. The stands that do not have these facilities
saw only a small drop in violations, in spite of a campaign
to observe the rules in force brought about by the fact
that in 2008 every second aircraft (52%) did not comply
with the rules. The campaign will continue at a greater
intensity in 2009.
In connection with most of the recorded violations, CPH
took direct action by boarding the aircraft in question and
notifying the pilot that the airports rules on use of APUs
must be complied with.
comes from engine run-ups, but the use of APUs also
contributes to the noise exposure. Most jet aircraft have
an APU, a small jet engine which produces power and
pressurised air for the aircraft when it is on the ground
and the main engines are turned off. To reduce noise, the
APU may only be used for five minutes before the aircraft
leaves the stand and five minutes after it arrives at the
stand. For the rest of the time, the aircraft must use the
power and ventilation facilities provided by the airport at
most stands. At 103 out of the 121 numbered stands at
Copenhagen Airport, we have installed stationary power
supply facilities for aircraft. At stands that do not have
these facilities, the aircraft can use a GPU (ground power
unit), which is a diesel or electrically powered generator
that emits considerably less noise than an APU. CPH made
regular inspections during the year to monitor the use of
APUs at the aircraft stands.
In 2008, 117 inspections were made to check the use of
APUs by aircraft; a representative selection of the airports
stands used for jet aircraft were inspected. In 75 cases, the
rules were complied with, whilst the conditions for use of
APUs were not complied with in 42 cases. Accordingly,
36% of the inspections showed violation of the rules. An
evaluation of the last four years of aircraft stand inspections
shows that stands with power and ventilation facilities
showed a decline in violations from 62% in 2005 to
13% in 2008. The stands that do not have these facilities
saw only a small drop in violations, in spite of a campaign
to observe the rules in force brought about by the fact
that in 2008 every second aircraft (52%) did not comply
with the rules. The campaign will continue at a greater
intensity in 2009.
In connection with most of the recorded violations, CPH
took direct action by boarding the aircraft in question and
notifying the pilot that the airports rules on use of APUs
must be complied with.
