What is the proper sequence of things to do after a flight and arriving and parking at the gate with park brake set and all 4 engines running in order to get external power (ground power) available so it can be selected before shutting down engines and without starting the APU?I can't seem to get the external power available light to come on so I can select ground power prior to engine shut down.

You have to shut down 3 engines and wait a minute or two for it to be connected, also the parking brake must be set

Typical standard proceduce for most (if not all) carriers is to always start the APU after landing, so that you have power and air after shutting down the engines.One of the reasons for this: the ground crew won't go anywhere near the plane in order to attach power and/or air, when the engines are still running!- Bill

What if the APU is INOP?

That's pretty uncommon, but... You simply lose power and air on engine shutdown... until ground crew is able to get those connected.Hmmm.... remarkably similar to how PMDG has modelled things, no? ;-)- Bill

Again....as long as the external power option is checked in the PMDG menu, shut down engines 1, 2, and 3 with parking brake set, wait a minute or two, and it will connect

"One of the reasons for this: the ground crew won't go anywhere near the plane in order to attach power and/or air, when the engines are still running!"Whimps! :(With the APU inop, we do hook up Ext Pwr (Usually the pilots have shut down all but one engine, and the Ext Power point is at the nosewheel, so there is no danger at all).Air on the other hand, is a different matter. We probably couldn't hook up external air with an engine still providing bleed air (because of the backpressure), and the connecting points are pretty close to the engines. Sometimes we're so keen, we hook up the external power before the plane has landed.. :(http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/194855.jpgCheers.Q>

What engines do you cut and in what order, I tryed 4, 3, and 2 but never got the ext. power availble light, even after a minute or two.

You should keep engine 4 running as it powers the number 4 HYD System for brakes.. never quite figured out the PMDG coded logic for Automatic EXT connection as it seems to be totally random.APU inop is very very rare.Rob

>Sometimes we're so keen, we hook up the external power before>the plane has landed.. :(>>http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/194855.jpg>>Cheers.>Q>>Hope you're not trying to pull a fast one Q, cause that bird only has 3 engines ;)