Given that the APU (auxiliary power unit) on most aircraft is capable of keeping the air conditioning working on an aircraft when it’s not in the air, to many people the concept of providing an external source of conditioned air from ground support appears initially unnecessary. After all, if an aircraft has the capacity to keep the air conditioning operational while passengers disembark and necessary maintenance tasks are undertaken, why bother to use separate aircraft air conditioners? In reality these handy pieces of machinery are now an essential part of any contemporary ground support service. Take a look at why in today’s aviation industry relying on APUs to provide conditioned air is now no longer an option.
Operational Costs
Because the APU is operated using costly aviation fuel, running the system simply to keep the plane air conditioned is a ridiculous waste of money. Aircraft air conditioners cost only a fraction of the price which using an APU entails, yet can still deliver the same excellent results. Given the growing number of airlines and the competitive nature of the business, wasting thousands of dollars every year on APU activity is clearly not a sensible course of action. Cost-conscious airlines across the globe now use aircraft air conditioners to keep APU use to a minimum.
Maintenance Costs
As the APU is intended as a support or back-up system for the aircraft should the main engines become partially or totally inoperable for some reason, it requires regular, expensive maintenance. Frequently this maintenance is carried out based on the number of hours an APU has been running, or the number of cycles it has undertaken. Obviously if it’s being used to provide air conditioning while on the ground, those hours are going to notch up more rapidly and as a result the maintenance bill starts to rise. Aircraft air conditioners provide a cost effective alternative which helps to keep maintenance costs to a minimum.
Green Choices
APUs are not the greenest of systems to operate, so it makes sense to use more environmentally friendly alternatives if possible. Aircraft air conditioners almost invariably leave less of a carbon footprint, produce fewer emissions and are more energy efficient to run, saving precious resources as well as cutting costs. With so many ecological advantages over aircraft APUs, it makes sense for ground support operations everywhere to use aircraft air conditioners wherever possible.
Rising fuel costs and the green agenda combine to form a powerful imperative for airlines and airports to opt for energy efficient equipment and methods of working which are also kind to the planet. Aircraft air conditioners are a good example of how modern technology can achieve a cheaper, greener alternative to traditional working practices while still delivering premium results. If you want to know more about the various options available to your company for economical ground support equipment which ticks all the green boxes, contact Mercury GSE, an established company which specializes in this field.
