Ground service and ground power?
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1
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From: Wien
Ground service and ground power?
Hello guys
I have been watching a lot of plane videos on the internet from the initial power up to shut down. I saw pilots hold the ground service switch outside of the cockpit when they shut down the power? Can anyone tell me why they do this? I here talk about the 737..
I have been watching a lot of plane videos on the internet from the initial power up to shut down. I saw pilots hold the ground service switch outside of the cockpit when they shut down the power? Can anyone tell me why they do this? I here talk about the 737..
Joined: Nov 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,139
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From: UK
I think you are referring to the ground services bus:
When there is a crew change, the outgoing crew can leave the aircraft without completely shutting it down and ‘putting it to bed’. The ground services bus powers internal lights and power outlets, (and perhaps cargo doors and battery chargers), from the ground power unit (GPU) outside, to allow cleaning and catering staff to turn the aircraft around in the absence of a crew.
To achieve this, a ground service switch, usually located in the forward galley, is held or selected and then the ground power selector in the cockpit can be switched off. All the aircraft electricals, except those I have mentioned above are powered down, leaving the aircraft in a safe state, so not requiring the presence of a pilot in the cockpit.
Same for an Airbus.
When there is a crew change, the outgoing crew can leave the aircraft without completely shutting it down and ‘putting it to bed’. The ground services bus powers internal lights and power outlets, (and perhaps cargo doors and battery chargers), from the ground power unit (GPU) outside, to allow cleaning and catering staff to turn the aircraft around in the absence of a crew.
To achieve this, a ground service switch, usually located in the forward galley, is held or selected and then the ground power selector in the cockpit can be switched off. All the aircraft electricals, except those I have mentioned above are powered down, leaving the aircraft in a safe state, so not requiring the presence of a pilot in the cockpit.
Same for an Airbus.
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Ormond Beach
I think you are referring to the ground services bus:
When there is a crew change, the outgoing crew can leave the aircraft without completely shutting it down and ‘putting it to bed’. The ground services bus powers internal lights and power outlets, (and perhaps cargo doors and battery chargers), from the ground power unit (GPU) outside, to allow cleaning and catering staff to turn the aircraft around in the absence of a crew.
To achieve this, a ground service switch, usually located in the forward galley, is held or selected and then the ground power selector in the cockpit can be switched off. All the aircraft electricals, except those I have mentioned above are powered down, leaving the aircraft in a safe state, so not requiring the presence of a pilot in the cockpit.
Same for an Airbus.
When there is a crew change, the outgoing crew can leave the aircraft without completely shutting it down and ‘putting it to bed’. The ground services bus powers internal lights and power outlets, (and perhaps cargo doors and battery chargers), from the ground power unit (GPU) outside, to allow cleaning and catering staff to turn the aircraft around in the absence of a crew.
To achieve this, a ground service switch, usually located in the forward galley, is held or selected and then the ground power selector in the cockpit can be switched off. All the aircraft electricals, except those I have mentioned above are powered down, leaving the aircraft in a safe state, so not requiring the presence of a pilot in the cockpit.
Same for an Airbus.
