Building Your Fleet Infrastructure with Ground Power Units

Having a healthy selection of ground support equipment can be one of the hallmarks of developed fleet infrastructure. Operations with abundant ground resources may not have to depend upon on-board systems for power. These options can provide a degree of flexibility to help your fleet be as efficient and effective as possible.

The APU by Cycles and Hours

The key on-board component for power generation is the auxiliary power unit. This system draws air from the main turbines to charge an air compressor and burns kerosene or jet fuel to power electrical systems in flight. Because of their vital importance to safely flying a commercial jet, auxiliary power units or APUs need to be carefully inspected at each step of their design, manufacturing, and maintenance. Each of these inspections takes place at regular intervals of power-on cycles and hours in operation. In addition to regular inspection, every hour of operation or power cycle creates wear on the unit that needs to be addressed in the form of preventative maintenance. All of these costs are in addition to the direct cost of running the APU in terms of pounds of fuel burnt.

Efficiency Opportunities in Parked Aircraft

For a variety of reasons, it is necessary to run the APUs for the duration of all flights. Avionics, climate control, and possibly control surface hydraulics all depend on the electrical and mechanical power generated from the APUs. Their fuel consumption and the other costs of operating them outlined above can make up a significant portion of your fleet's overall costs. Depending on your unique circumstances, your aircraft may spend a considerable portion of their lives parked, loading and unloading freight or passengers, or otherwise waiting on the airport apron. This downtime can offer opportunities to minimize the costs of power consumption and streamline your fleet's overhead. Ground power units can provide the steady 400 Hz power supply you need at a fraction of the cost.

The GPU by Diesel and Kilowatts

In its simplest form, a ground power unit is just a large diesel or gasoline generator on wheels. The most apparent difference in GPUs is whether they output power in DC or AC. Some can support both the 115 V 400 Hz AC power standard as well as the 28.5V DC standard. These come in a selection of sizes to meet the needs of both small and large commercial aircraft. Because they burn less expensive fuel and do so more efficiently, they can be much less expensive to operate on a per kilowatt basis than onboard systems. Further, some brands are known for their stellar reliability and ease of maintenance making them an even more attractive option to power parked aircraft during loading and unloading.

Ground based power supplies can have less stringent maintenance and inspection requirements, operate on less expensive fuel and can run more efficiently than on-board auxiliary power units. Click here to browse an array of available ground power units to suit your specific needs and circumstances.

Taryn Johnson is an avid writer. She loves all things about electronics and marketing. In a perfect world,