skyrunner1500
Well-Known Member
Having the APU available during taxi-in is mandatory in many places outside the US. At many airports in Europe, it is not allowed to connect the jetbridge or external stairs with the beacon on. At most places it's also not allowed for ground staff to even connect the GPU if one of the engines is still running. So you are forced to start the APU, if you want to, or not.
If you take an aircraft without a working APU to one of these airports (and they are becoming more and more common), you need to tell your handling company a few hours in advance and they'll probably give you another stand or inform their ground staff, but your company sometimes has to pay a fine. Better fix that APU quick or dispatch the aircraft somewhere where it's not required. Oh, and don't forget to shut down the APU again, latest 5min. after block on and don't restart it until 5min. before pushing back, or you can count on some local police approaching you in the cockpit, trying to charge your personal credit card for having the APU on and making noise.
I like having the APU available during taxi-in, since it simply reduces the workload in the cockpit during quick turnarounds. You can connect the bridge or stairs immediately, start disembarking the passengers, all while finishing your paperwork and waiting for someone to go find a GPU, since you "suddenly" showed up at the gate (on time) and nothing was prepared for your arrival... If it just helps, making a few minutes available for everyone to get out of their seat, stretch your legs and also get your mind out of the cockpit, the few gallons of extra fuel were worth it.
If you take an aircraft without a working APU to one of these airports (and they are becoming more and more common), you need to tell your handling company a few hours in advance and they'll probably give you another stand or inform their ground staff, but your company sometimes has to pay a fine. Better fix that APU quick or dispatch the aircraft somewhere where it's not required. Oh, and don't forget to shut down the APU again, latest 5min. after block on and don't restart it until 5min. before pushing back, or you can count on some local police approaching you in the cockpit, trying to charge your personal credit card for having the APU on and making noise.
I like having the APU available during taxi-in, since it simply reduces the workload in the cockpit during quick turnarounds. You can connect the bridge or stairs immediately, start disembarking the passengers, all while finishing your paperwork and waiting for someone to go find a GPU, since you "suddenly" showed up at the gate (on time) and nothing was prepared for your arrival... If it just helps, making a few minutes available for everyone to get out of their seat, stretch your legs and also get your mind out of the cockpit, the few gallons of extra fuel were worth it.
