Boeing Lounge 737 gate cooling tips

Uh oh. This is tick off a lot of FOs. They do it for the noise. I get it. But still, procedural noncompliance.



Recirculation Fans



We’re still seeing the improper use of recirc fan switches. Standards has asked us to spread the word on this. Unless a checklist specifically directs you to position the recirc fan switch to “OFF”, please leave both switches in “AUTO” as they help maintain proper cabin temps and cooling of flight deck screens so they don’t blank. This will be even more important as we head into the hot summer months. We all know once temps rise its much harder to cool.
 
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Then you have the double punch EGPWS FOs (that’s a no), the Capt side ACP NORM to ALT during EGPWS test FOs, the guys who send the BARO and EOSID alt to the Capt side by using the display control switch both on R and back to norm (that one took me a while to figure out, I’d set my ND with the options I like, then notice I lost my airports and stations. It was because when they do that “technique” , it also grabs their ND setup).





What will they think of next? :)
 
Eww gross, we're in contract negotiations "two engines till contract day"

This is dumb. We’re technically in a JCBA negotiation. With a contract that wasn’t amendable until March 2027.


I don’t see it as the same thing.


Plus, you know, war and oil this year being volatile, and losing money, so there’s that.
 
Then you have the double punch EGPWS FOs (that’s a no), the Capt side ACP NORM to ALT during EGPWS test FOs, the guys who send the BARO and EOSID alt to the Capt side by using the display control switch both on R and back to norm (that one took me a while to figure out, I’d set my ND with the options I like, then notice I lost my airports and stations. It was because when they do that “technique” , it also grabs their ND setup).





What will they think of next? :)

I don't know what double tapping the EGPWS test button does, or why anyone would do it? But the other things you mention, to include turning off the L recirc fan, I only know about because CA's are doing them. In fact, in my experience, exclusively CA's, since I don't do them myself :)
 
I don't know what double tapping the EGPWS test button does, or why anyone would do it? But the other things you mention, to include turning off the L recirc fan, I only know about because CA's are doing them. In fact, in my experience, exclusively CA's, since I don't do them myself :)


It’s a MX function. But you hear “faults. No faults detected.” And people think that’s good to go. It’s addressed in the 737 Stan Notes. Do not double punch. One click of the EGPWS button for the test we are required to do.
 
I don't know what double tapping the EGPWS test button does, or why anyone would do it? But the other things you mention, to include turning off the L recirc fan, I only know about because CA's are doing them. In fact, in my experience, exclusively CA's, since I don't do them myself :)
Wasn’t there a memo specifically saying not to turn off the fans?
 
why is anyone turning off the recirc fan for any reason, in normal ops?

like doing a manual standby power check in a Classic onward, and wondering why a fuse blew.
 
Well, since they pull air from the cargo hold tuning them off when the cargo doors are open in Las Vegas in July does help a little.

But our guidance says to leave them on anyways so enjoy the added warm air.
 
Well, since they pull air from the cargo hold tuning them off when the cargo doors are open in Las Vegas in July does help a little.

But our guidance says to leave them on anyways so enjoy the added warm air.
By the same token, if (by some miracle) the airplane is sitting with ground air hooked up, and the air is actually blowing cold, it doesn’t work nearly as well if someone has left the fan off.
 
By the same token, if (by some miracle) the airplane is sitting with ground air hooked up, and the air is actually blowing cold, it doesn’t work nearly as well if someone has left the fan off.

Though lower pressure, turning them off does help the ground air actually blow cool instead of warm.

But I’m the type who just cranks the APU as soon as the walk around is done or the first passenger boards.
 
Though lower pressure, turning them off does help the ground air actually blow cool instead of warm.

But I’m the type who just cranks the APU as soon as the walk around is done or the first passenger boards.
This is true, since it draws air from around the fwd cargo compartment. Watch the duct temperature if you aren't convinced. Varsity level technique is to turn the fan off, let the duct temperature get as low as it's going to go, then turn the fan back on to blow all that cool air from the duct into the cabin, rinse and repeat.

Also, I turn the fan off when I'm on the phone with dispatch because I'm getting old and I want to be able to hear them.
 
Because they don’t like the noise in the flight deck.

Interesting. Have never noticed a difference in noise with the recirc fan on or off. Then again, the Classic only has one fan, so that might be the case. The Jurassic has a single gasper fan, which the noise of that thing can be heard.

It’s one reason I don’t use a pack to high on the ground when it’s hot outside, as that shuts off the one recirc fan and thus becomes a high workload for a pack with little net cold air gain. Operating a pack in auto and the recirc in auto when on APU, is better overall.
 
Interesting. Have never noticed a difference in noise with the recirc fan on or off. Then again, the Classic only has one fan, so that might be the case. The Jurassic has a single gasper fan, which the noise of that thing can be heard.

It’s one reason I don’t use a pack to high on the ground when it’s hot outside, as that shuts off the one recirc fan and thus becomes a high workload for a pack with little net cold air gain. Operating a pack in auto and the recirc in auto when on APU, is better overall.
I run the packs in high on the ground all the time (Boeing calls it max cooling). Engine bleed switches off, APU switch on. The top row all in auto.

That shuts off the recirc fan (because engine bleeds switch are off), sets the packs to high (because engine bleed switches are off) and opens the isolation valve (because either engine bleed switch is off).

But that's an NG/Max thing. It's been many moons since I flew a classic and a decade longer than that since I last flew a -200.
 
I run the packs in high on the ground all the time (Boeing calls it max cooling). Engine bleed switches off, APU switch on. The top row all in auto.

That shuts off the recirc fan (because engine bleeds switch are off), sets the packs to high (because engine bleed switches are off) and opens the isolation valve (because either engine bleed switch is off).

But that's an NG/Max thing. It's been many moons since I flew a classic and a decade longer than that since I last flew a -200.

This is basically our procedure. Works fairly well on the planes with the old gasper vents. The newer flower petal ones on the 900 is kinda meh but better than nothing.
 
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