At Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), maintenance personnel at United Airlines found they were performing extensive “outside of hangar” maintenance activities on the ramp area. With no electrical infrastructure in place, the airline’s technicians were left with the choice of using mobile diesel ground power units (GPUs).
With a need to meet existing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements in California – as well as Texas, United Airlines turned to ITW GSE’s 7400 electric ground power units (eGPU), which can be charged nearly anywhere an electrical circuit is available and deliver a power source to remote areas for use.
“In California and Texas, ‘fossil fueled’ GPUs had been targeted due to their extended run-times and overall use in remote aircraft staging locations, explains Andrew Alexander, senior manager – facilities and GSE engineering at United Airlines. “Replacing these fossil fueled GPUs with environmentally compliant equipment was the overall goal. Based on the performance of the ITW 7400 series lithium-ion powered GPUs, United Airlines has now adopted this GPU replacement strategy wherever possible.”
At legacy airports, infrastructure power can often be an issue at many gates. However, a relatively small electrical circuit allows the 7400 to be used when there are no spare electrical circuits available for standard electrically powered fixed GPUs.
“Infrastructure support for charging the ITW 7400 equipment has been a challenge,” notes Alexander. “Through the partnership with ITW and several airport authorities, charging infrastructure has been installed.
“In addition to the infrastructure challenges mentioned, ITW, in partnership with Crescent Electrical Supply, has developed a viable ‘Powershare’ option using existing power from a jet bridge circuit. This development reduces overall infrastructure costs and provides United operations the ability to charge the 7400 series unit at a gate or terminal location.”
According to Alexander, the 7400 eGPU offers a similar boost in environmental-related compliance to that of electric tractors and belt-loaders. United has also achieved fuel savings and reduced maintenance costs.
“Besides the large-scale issues regarding environmental footprint, reducing fossil fuel burning GSE has an immediate benefit regarding passenger cabin air quality,” adds Tim Fox, facilities engineering and maintenance projects and programs manager at United Airlines.
“The forced supply air ventilating the cabin, while aircraft are on the ground, originates in the ramp environment near the aircraft,” he continues. “By using electric GSE like the 7400, it helps keep the ramp environment cleaner, and therefore keeps the cabin environment cleaner.”
Serving as ITW’s launch customer in 2018, United Airline personnel have reported positive feedback on the 7400. Users have been impressed with how long available power can last from a single full charge.
According to Alexander, United is working on multiple grant opportunities and possible pay-per-use concepts for this type of equipment. As with any new technology, Alexander encourages others to not focus on negatives or costs, but rather embrace new technology and seek ways to expand on it.
