why there is no air condition in planes while waiting on the ground?

Question

Thank you all for your answer.
I read it all, but I still don't find a reason why the airlines treat us like this.....
Last time was really awfull, there was a long line of planes waiting for take off, more than 30 minutes.
We had a free sauna in.....

Answer 1

Unless there's a mechanical malfunction, the only time you probably won't have A/C is while the plane is still next to the jetway, and the APU (auxillary power unit) isn't running.

Constant use of the APU while on the ground can cause it to overheat, resulting in the aircraft going back to the terminal on a mechanical delay or cancellation.

Answer 2

Actually there is, or there can be, if the airplane is equipped with an auxiliary power unit (APU) with bleed air capability. I have piloted such an aircraft and we usually start the APU in advance of passenger arrival and, with APU bleed air and a temperature selector inside the cockpit, we are able to either cool or heat the cabin, quite effectively. (In fact, the APU in the aircraft I am referring to is even powerful enough to pressurize the cabin, but not all the way to the aircraft's service ceiling. In fact, it did begin to pressurize the cabin once while the airplane was on the ground! I was alone in the airplane at the time. We think the reason that happened was some moisture collected overnight while not hangared and froze in a location that affected the operation of a particular valve. It resolved itself. ) Some aircraft have a compressor which can be operated when external power is supplied to the aircraft. My experience is that these units do not do as good of a job as an APU. My experience is in private jets. The same principles, however, should apply to "airliners". (Oh, and after landing, we would often fire up the APU during taxi, for electrical power after shutdown and afterward as needed, if we--the pilots-- lingered in the aircraft doing paperwork, etc. )

Answer 3

Actually the APU can operate almost indefinitely as long as it has fuel. Overheating is never a problem unless something goes wrong. It's simply another turbine engine not unlike any jet engine and they run for hours and hours at a time. The APU normally supplies air conditioning and electrical power while on the ground. At most airports, ground power units are also available if the aircraft APU should fail. Without the APU and no ground power, the engines on a large aircraft cannot be started because they use an air turbine starter that requires the same pneumatic pressure that the air conditioner uses. Having said all that, there are other things that can fail but it's highly unusual for air conditioning not being available on the ground.

Answer 4

They do have airconditioning on the ground... most of the time... airplanes that are not equipped with an APU, only the SAAB 340 comes to mind immediatly, there is no A/C on the ground... I had a bad experience non-reving on a SAAB in the summer... We got away from the gate and had to wait for our load numbers on a remote parking stand... 20 mins later, when the plane was already steaming, we got the call to taxi completely across the field for takeoff... that was another 40 mins waiting in line... that baby was HOT!!! A baby was crying in the row behind me and the F/A couldnt do anything, since we were on an active taxiway... it was awful...

Answer 5

You must be more specific when asking questions like this. Large passenger aircraft all have air conditioning. Small light aircraft don't need it, because you can open a door or window until you get underway. Then there are those in between which are equipped with air conditioning at a cost much like that of purchasing a Hummer.

Answer 6

There is some air conditioning while on the ground, but only limited. The air for the conditioning system comes from the engines of the aircraft, notice next time you take-off that the air conditioning will shut off so all the air the engines produce is only used for thrust to take off.

Answer 7

airlines too cheap to pay for it - simplified answer.
In order to keep load light there is only so much fuel or even capacity for power kept on planes. Air is 1st to go.

Answer 8

I had A/C just last week on my airline, so I would think it was a machanical failure or prolly the pilots forgot to turn it on?

Answer 9

it takes power
power needs to be generated
generating power means increasing thrut or starting auxiliary power unit
both of above means increased fuel consumption and increased noise
both above mean higher operating fees
higher operating fees mean higher ticket prices

Answer 10

Airplanes do not need Aircon, as in cooling, as the air temperature at altitude is always very low so only heating is required so the cooling function is going to be marginal or non existant.