Auxiliary Power Unit. A device for providing alternate power to an aircraft, usually located in the aircraft's tail.
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Where does the “APU Auto Shutdown” message appear?
I'm trying to find out if and where the "APU Auto Shutdown" message appears on the ECAM.
3
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1answer
217 views
Where is the APU fuel pump on the A320?
I'm looking for APU fuel pump location for A320 aircraft series. I'll be much appreciated if you provide a link to some images, schemes.
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279 views
What is the fuel source for the APU on a B737?
Where does the fuel come from that powers the APU on a 737? My understanding is that it is from the left front main fuel tank, but I've also heard, hearsay, it can have it's own source. I know that ...
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1answer
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What role did the RAT (Ram Air Turbine) play on US Airways flight 1549?
An article in June 2018 Flying Magazine regarding the RAT by a Rob Mark explains that Capt. Sullunberger deployed the RAT for additional power to guide the plane down to the safe ditching on the ...
14
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1answer
988 views
What is an “all-electric APU”?
Understand that the APS5000 used in the B787 is the first all-electric APU for large commercial aircraft.
Source: http://www.pwc.ca/en/engines/auxiliary-power-units
Sorry if this sounds too ...
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1answer
182 views
Where is the inlet for the APU on a Fokker 70/100?
I can see the exhaust for the APU on a Fokker jet, but where is the inlet?
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99 views
In BGA or ATR's what are the major causes of ODOR in Cabin or Smoke in Cabin? [closed]
In BGA or ATR's what are the major causes of ODOR in Cabin or Smoke in Cabin?
There are some of the maintenance activities that are related to removal of Engines or APU.
Removal reason: Smoke in cabin ...
3
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1answer
325 views
Why do we have to perform a normal APU shutdown if a fuel spillage occurs?
I was reading in the limitations chapter of the A320 which stated that if a fuel spillage occurs we have to perform a normal APU shutdown what is the reason behind this?
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1answer
217 views
What is the difference between an APU and an ATS?
Is there a big difference between what an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) and an Air Turbine Starter (ATS) system actually does?
My understanding is that an APU provides power for the electrical systems ...
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2answers
834 views
What is meant by a “cold soak" of an APU?
What is the exact meaning of "cold soak" of an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)? Is it to do with long flights at high altitude and the fuel getting cold? Will it affect the ignition of the APU? Can anyone ...
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1answer
2k views
When are the engine bleed air, APU and packs turned on in the B737?
When do I have to turn on the engine bleed air and APU? In videos I have seen that they are always on, and sometimes they turn them off after take-off. I also have the same question about the packs.
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1answer
973 views
Why do the jet turbines spin while the engines are turned off?
Why do the jet turbines spin while the engines are turned off? Is this as a result of the wind? Or are the turbines deliberately spun using the APU? If so what is the reason behind this?
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3answers
645 views
How are the services kept running on a plane without an APU? [duplicate]
I have seen several aircraft that do not have an operative APU, so how are lights, air, and other systems kept running?
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1answer
531 views
Why is powering on the APU so low on the A320 emergency checklist?
In the movie Sully we have this section of dialogue
He wasn't following proper procedure at all.
And I know because I had the QRH in my hands.
He switched on the APU immediately after
engine ...
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1answer
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Why is the 787 tail cone made out of titanium?
In this question there is a drawing of a 787 that shows that the tail cone is made of titanium.
Why is such a heavy-duty material like titanium required for the tail cone?
I do not see how there ...
14
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1answer
661 views
What is the purpose of the fin at the Boeing 787 APU exhaust?
The fin is located under the Boeing 787 APU exhaust as shown in the picture below. Does anybody know the application of this thing or it is used for 'guiding' the APU exhaust? Thanks.
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Why isn't the APU a standard diesel generator?
Why isn't the APU a standard diesel generator? Jet-A and diesel are interchangeable (with the addition of a lubricant). So why not use a cheaper piston engine as opposed to a jet turbine?
V.S.
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1answer
381 views
Why would smoke enter the cabin if the batteries are switched off before the APU flap closes?
In the A320 FCOM SOPs securing if the APU flap doesn't fully close smoke may occur in the cabin in the next flight
In the NORMAL PROCEDURES SECURING THE AIRCRAFT. It states that before switching off ...
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1answer
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On the A320, why is it not recommended to use the HP ground unit when the APU Bleed is on?
Can someone explain what the HP ground unit is used for? And what damage happens to the bleed system if it is used?
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1answer
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Why can't we use APU bleed air for wing anti ice on the A320?
The question says it all. While reading I came across this that we can under no circumstances use APU bleed air for supplying wing anti ice? Any reason?
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4answers
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What is the APU actually used for?
What are the actual uses of the APU? When is it used? When does it go off?
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3answers
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Was the miracle on the Hudson saved exclusively by the APU?
In the film Sully, (staring Tom Hanks) the APU is switched on straight after both engines rollback, why was this step necessary; Airbus said this was the "15th thing" to do on the checklist.
How or ...
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5answers
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Can the APU provide emergency thrust?
By David Monniaux (Own work) [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY-SA 2.0 fr], via Wikimedia Commons
Many larger airplanes have gas turbine APUs (auxiliary power units). It seems that their exhaust is ...
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2answers
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Is the Auxiliary Power Unit used after landing when ground power is available?
Assuming the airport provides ground power at the gate, will the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) be started and used after landing? If not, I guess the engines will only be shut down when the Ground Power ...
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1answer
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How does an ETOPS APU start in-flight?
An ETOPS APU has to be on-demand, i.e. must be able to start at any altitude. If it can't, then it's not shut down for the entire flight.
Compared to a normal APU, what are the design differences ...
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Why is the A400M APU on the side of the fuselage instead of the back?
As you can see in this picture the APU of the A400M is on the side under the right wing, including the RAM-Air-Turbine.
Why is the A400M APU on the side of the fuselage instead of the back?
Why is ...
4
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1answer
657 views
How much electrical power is available in a Gulfstream G550 and from which power sources?
I'd like to understand what electrical power sources are available (engines? APU? GPU? Other?) on a larger jet like the G550, and how much power they can provide, depending on whether the airplane is ...
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1answer
425 views
What is the function of the hole at the rear of the airplane? [duplicate]
What is the function of the hole at the rear of a plane?
I searched online but didn't get a satisfying answer.
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2answers
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Where is the APU in the case of an S-duct (like the L-1011)?
This question asks about the S-duct of the L-1011 Tristar. Fooot's answer shows a cut-out of the L-1011. Looking at this cut-out, I'm wondering:
If the engine is at the 'normal' location of the APU, ...
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1answer
3k views
When do commercial flights turn off the APU?
On commercial flights do the pilots ever turn off the APU? Is it needed when flying?
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1answer
2k views
What type of engine/motor is used in aircraft APU?
Is the APU a mini-jet engine, or some other type of motor? I know its purpose is to provide power when the engines are off, but what kind of motor/engine is used to generate the power?
I assume this ...
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1answer
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What is this device protruding from the rear of this 787?
While looking at the photos from this question
I noticed a small protrusion from the side of the plane. You can see it in the photo:
and in the diagram from l@aeroalias answer:
In the diagram it ...
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1answer
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What is this open panel at the rear of this airplane?
I saw this photo at another interesting question:
There's an open square panel. What is it?
P.S. Any tag suggestions are welcome. All I could think of was "tail".
EDIT: are there any other tags for ...
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4answers
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Can airliners operate without an operating APU?
As the APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) can be turned off when the engines are running, a functional APU may not be needed given you are able to start at least one engine. This question is in two parts:
Is ...
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3answers
8k views
In what conditions is the APU used in midair?
In flight, engines provide all the needed energy (bleed air, hydraulic and electrical power). So the APU can be shut down shortly after engines are running. But I imagine that starting the APU in ...
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3answers
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Can an APU exhaust make a contrail in flight?
I saw this picture in a local newspaper.
My thoughts were, silly artists, that's the APU exhaust, it won't ever produce a trail like that during takeoff (or ever).
Of course, the picture is clearly ...
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2answers
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How are APUs started?
How are jet engines started? says that engines must be started from bleed air, which can come from the APU, another engine, or a huffer cart, or from windmilling.
As far as I understand, APUs are ...
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1answer
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What could cause the APU on a Boeing 777 to fail and also trip the GPU?
I am a cargo aircraft loader at Heathrow and while we were offloading cargo, pallets and baggage containers from a Pakistan Airlines B777, the aircraft's Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) failed. It made ...
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1answer
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BLEED FAULT lamp illumination under various conditions [closed]
In lots of commercial and defence aircrafts, bleed fault is annunciated because of mainly the following reasons:
Overpressure/Overheat
shut-off valve disagreement (i.e. failed open, failed closed)
...
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2answers
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Why is the APU located in the tail for almost all commercial aricraft?
I know there are planes whose APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) is located elsewhere, but for best sellers commercial jet aircraft (A320, B737, B747, A330,...), the APU is located in the tail. Is there a ...
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3answers
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Where does the APU draw its intake air?
In an airliner, where does the APU draw its intake air?
Is it a similar location for all airliners, or do different options exist?
