A320 To APU or not to be, that is the emergency electrical question
 

What criteria would you use to start the APU in a A320 emergency electrical configuration? Considering the feasibility.

and which phase?

As the probability of coupling is low. Any APU start will drain batteries.

Cheers


of course if you can start it better

right, there are pertinent differences in the newer versus older A320s

If it's loss generators then only APU will connect. If it's faulty AC buses then APU won't connect. Still one attempt can be made

The QRH / ECAM instructs you to start the APU.

What criteria would you use to NOT start the APU?

My opinion

- In any "non normal" electrical situation, making an attempt to start the APU is never a bad thing.

- Always follow ECAM, QRH procedure

Look at the generator output figures. If showing Freq and Volts they are working so the problem is downstream so unlikely the APU will connect. If showing zero and you have tried the reset they are the problem so probably worth trying a start and connection.

Not so sure about the

- Always follow ECAM, QRH procedure

What if you have a multiple birdstrike on T.O. and Eng 1 fails and Eng 2 bursts into flames but still runs. Going to follow ECAM then?

Genuine question, has any A320 ever found itself in Emergency Electric?

I know we train for it, and it's good to think "what if", but really what are the chances?

https://avherald.com/h?article=50d67ba0&opt=0

Just a few months ago

Wow, busy day out for those guys.

When I did my Type course 7/8 years ago, the instructor said there had never been an Emergency Elec Config that wasn't either planned (as part of an air test) or self inflicted (due wrong button pressing). Guess he was wrong.

APU starting is inhibited for 40s after emergency electrical configuration entry. Reason most likely to get RAT on line as it's more important. Very nice if you then get the APU going.