Hey everyone,

 

Had a quick operational question. When the aircraft is left parked at the gate overnight what is the standard procedure after the secure aircraft checklist. Is the battery switch generally left on? Are ground power or external air normally left connected or is the aircraft generally left in a complete cold and dark state?

 

Thanks!

 

Jaison Diaz

Complete cold and dark state. Parking brake on, chocks in place.

Thanks Jordan!

and don't forget jetway back a few feet!

We leave it with ground service power on. I don't know if that's simulated.

But who puts it into cold and dark and turns it on again? The cockpit crew or ground maintenance?

But who puts it into cold and dark and turns it on again? The cockpit crew or ground maintenance?

 

Usually ground mx guys do it but after talking to a few pilots its not too uncommon for pilots to do it. I even hear about it once in awhile from a US Air pilot's blog.

it depends as well on where do you leave the aircraft - outstation, hub, etc.

 

Here, in our small outstation, the aircraft would be powered down completely by the crew, and they would seal the plane on leaving.

GPU will be sometimes left with the airplane, if the weather is good and it is not needed elsewhere, but would be turned off.

GPU usage has a cost, it will be turned off as soon as it is not more required, it will be disconnected and removed depending on airport needings versus next power up time.

Battery is always OFF when crew or the maintenance will close the door and leave the plane, this is obvious as the battery has no protection for discharging, it will be fully drained if leaved on the entire night.

However, as other said here, there is no "standard" for who turn off/on the plane, it all depends on the company, airport where you are.

A good thing could be to alternate both conditions by loading different panel states. It was discussed few months ago and there was a list to prepare the aircraft to have all the switches configured either for C&D or what a pilot will find if a mechanic already applied the power.