Whats a pack?
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Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Greystation
Whats a pack?
Had an a/c today decide not to fly the ocean, but burn fuel for 30 mins and divert into LHR due to a 'pack failure'. ATC too busy to really discover what this is but know its something to do with power???? Anyone care to explain in simplistic terms to a none flying controller please? cheers 
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: UK
It's a complete airconditioning/pressurisation unit. 2 on smaller jets, 3 on the big ones. Obviously one had failed and eminently sensible not to cross the pond! They are well protected with temperature sensors and overheat controllers and glitch warnings are not unusual.
Joined: May 2002
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From: USA
If you want to read a little more on the subject, here's a link to a description of the 737 pack systems.
http://www.b737.org.uk/airconditioning.htm
http://www.b737.org.uk/airconditioning.htm
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Greystation
Excellent, thanks everyone, just what I was after. The a/c was a B767, so glad he decided not to go the whole hog, could have got nasty. Funny how new terms creep into phraseology that throws us off guard the first few times. If he had said he'd lost an AirCon/pressurisation system we would understand fully and ask the right questions associated. This one however threw us off guard and even indepth questioning revealed nothing, so he probably felt a little alone where we were concerned, but maybe thats how he liked it 
