Hot Aircraft

[Prince of PAWOBs]

Working outside on the ramp in the summertime is an undesirable scenario, but the freedom to find shade is available, so I have more sympathy for flight crews who are stuck in a plane while the sun cooks them like rotisserie chickens, which is why I wonder...

Why not do what archeologists suggested the Roman did in the Colliseum to shade the spectators? (What the #@// are you talking about, PAWOBs?) Bear with me for a second and after I suggest it you can pick away at the flaws.

If the respective airport authority took large, white canopies and placed them over the parking spots at the terminal, a good portion of sunlight could be blocked from hitting the plane while it sits at the gate waiting to be turned out to its next destination. This in turn creates a cooler environment for passengers, not to mention the employees working the planes. Would it be cool enough to shut down APU's at the gate? Not sure, but a bit of experimentation would seem to fit the bill.

Better yet, if the "sun shades" were retractable, ramp or ground control would have a safe view of the aircraft during pushback/turnout and taxi. Plus, it would look really cool, which Americans love anyway. Anything that looks "cool" is welcome just about anywhere.

Airlines probably have very little control in saying what should or should not be done at airports, but everybody knows somebody, and I bet there is one airport planner somewhere who might give an idea a shot, even if just to say that (s)he tried it. It could be the pinnacle of their career if it was a success. Hmm...... B)

 

[hp_fa]

Just a f/a, but it sounds like an air pack problem. We just had that happen on our 757 the other day. Anyone? Pilots?

The air pack can't run if the APU is off because a pilot isn't on the plane yet.

Hey I thought the purpose of painting all these east a/c white was to keep them cool? I have been on plenty and I mean plenty east 757's that are cool at the gate in vegas. Just was on one today and was fine. Vegas was 106 today. Hmmmm <_<

Cool is relative. Had they been dark blue you probably add 5-10 degrees to the cabin. Trust me, the beancounters would have weighed in the costs of all of that when they decided when, how and what colors to paint the plane.

 

[hp_fa]

If the respective airport authority took large, white canopies and placed them over the parking spots at the terminal, a good portion of sunlight could be blocked from hitting the plane while it sits at the gate waiting to be turned out to its next destination.

I like the thought, but don't think it is viable. Here's why.

1. Depending on the material used (cloth or a semi-rigid material) there would likely be maintenance costs in keeping the materials clean and in good repair.

2. There would likely need to be modifications made on the exterior of the terminal building in order to support such a shade. Since the loads on the supports would likely be significant due to weight, winds, rain, the supports would need to be fairly beefy.

Trust me, I like the thought. Especially if it saves electricity from cooling the plane as much as would otherwise be neccesary. Lessening the load on "ground air" would make it much more likely that the plane could be kept comfortable. This is likely to be a decision that is purely financially driven until the costs of electricity are so high that they are forced to an alternative.

 

[Prince of PAWOBs]

Absolutely valid reasons, HP FA. It would take a bit of engineering to come up with a way to maintain and support such a shade. Avoiding aircraft damage and on-the-ground injuries would be paramount, but I still think it's possible to retrofit an airport with such an idea. Too bad we're not engineers.

Neccessity is the Mother of Invention, so I'm guessing someone who wants to save $$$ on energy costs is going to chew on this idea pretty soon.

 

[flygirl74]

FWIW, I've been told that 100 people generate enough body heat to heat a small house in the winter (NC winter, that is). Since a narrowbody airplane has less interior volume than a small house, it stands to reason that cooling on the ground can be a problem in the summer.

Jim
[/quote]


I heard that the Mall of America does not have a heating system. The amount of bodies in the mall generate enough heat. MoA gets more visitors than Disney World.

 

[delldude]

Could be an apu inop. That'd require a ground source of cooling air (either a ground unit to supply cooled air or high pressure air to run a pack). The cabin would get hot at the gate with no/poor ground cooling and wouldn't get cool until after takeoff. A dead giveaway would be if they started one/both engines at the gate before pushing back.

FWIW, I've been told that 100 people generate enough body heat to heat a small house in the winter (NC winter, that is). Since a narrowbody airplane has less interior volume than a small house, it stands to reason that cooling on the ground can be a problem in the summer.

Jim

around 240 Btu/hour times 100 pax= 24000 Btu.....
and if they're women talking...it goes up....

 

[BoeingBoy]

Neccessity is the Mother of Invention, so I'm guessing someone who wants to save $$$ on energy costs is going to chew on this idea pretty soon.

Interesting idea - one needs only look at the "tent" roof at DIA to see that cantilevering something out over the parked aircraft is feasible.

Jim

 

[laxtwin]

Thanks to those of you who actually answered my question. It was sincere and I appreciate your time.

 

[N965VJ]

Maybe the Airbus should have an upgraded A/C system similar to what was done to the F-100s. It won’t make the cabin any cooler, but the noise will distract everyone from the heat.

And the PAX could play with the little pieces of ice that would rattle out of the vents.

 

[A320 Driver]

Maybe the Airbus should have an upgraded A/C system similar to what was done to the F-100s. It won’t make the cabin any cooler, but the noise will distract everyone from the heat.

And the PAX could play with the little pieces of ice that would rattle out of the vents.

Comparing the Airbus A/C to the F-100 is like comparing a home air conditioner to the paper fan your granny used in church. If these systems are not cooling, then there is a bigger problem. I've seen cold fog blowing through the cabin of an Airbus in high humidity. The systems are very efficient. Also, I am not aware of a requirement for a pilot to be on board to run the APU. It has an auto-shutdown feature and auto fire protection on the ground. Our handbook says to run the APU for passenger comfort any time necessary. Many times the jetway units just don't cut it. PHX will always be a challenge no matter what airplane you're on. Also, the A/C systems are supposed to get attention on the heavy checks. Not sure what other routine maintenance is done on them.


A320 Driver B)

 

[cageyjames]

Interesting idea - one needs only look at the "tent" roof at DIA to see that cantilevering something out over the parked aircraft is feasible.

Jim

We did this at NAF El Centro when working on F-14s and F/A-18s. The hangars there were built for WW2 aircraft so there was no way to get them in even halfway. We used large movable tents. You can see them in the middle of the aerial on the apron. Of course they wouldn't fit even a RJ, but....

NAF El Centro Apron "Tents"

Google Maps View

 

[hp_fa]

Comparing the Airbus A/C to the F-100 is like comparing a home air conditioner to the paper fan your granny used in church. If these systems are not cooling, then there is a bigger problem. I've seen cold fog blowing through the cabin of an Airbus in high humidity. The systems are very efficient. Also, I am not aware of a requirement for a pilot to be on board to run the APU. It has an auto-shutdown feature and auto fire protection on the ground. Our handbook says to run the APU for passenger comfort any time necessary. Many times the jetway units just don't cut it. PHX will always be a challenge no matter what airplane you're on. Also, the A/C systems are supposed to get attention on the heavy checks. Not sure what other routine maintenance is done on them.
A320 Driver B)

Last I knew, from last summer, someone qualified had to be on the plane if the APU was running.

 

[a320av8r]

737 right? 'nuff said...

 

[hp_fa]

737 right? 'nuff said...

That could be it.

 

[Diamondbacks2004]

LOL! The AWA Boeing 757 jet is the best cockpit windows shades I have ever seen!

http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_sea...php?id=00172463