What is an Auxiliary Power Unit?
Suparn Verma in Bombay Auxiliary Power Unit is an engine normally placed near the tail of an aircraft to provide air-conditioning on the ground, thereby keeping it independent of any ground support. It is also used to provide air pressure to start the engines. A jet engine, unlike automobile engines, must rotate at approximately 20% of its top speed before fuel is injected and ignition occurs. If the APU fails, the aircraft has no electrical supply, so it will be in total darkness. If the airport authorities at Kandahar have an electrical power source available — for the Airbus 300 — it can replace this APU. With the air conditioning not operating and with prevailing sub-zero temperatures it must be freezing in the aircraft. The only way to alleviate the discomfort of the people on board is if the ground authorities have an air-conditioning unit to heat up the aircraft, which in our opinion will not be available for such a large aircraft in Kandahar. The conditions in the aircraft ca
