{"id":28155,"date":"2025-07-16T06:05:56","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T10:05:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/?p=28155"},"modified":"2025-07-28T11:41:44","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T15:41:44","slug":"heat-damage-in-nice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/heat-damage-in-nice\/","title":{"rendered":"Heat Damage in Nice: When APU Rules Damage Aircraft"},"content":{"rendered":"<h6><strong>Key Points<\/strong><\/h6>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>APU use is limited &#8211; only allowed 10 minutes before TSAT, and only after towing.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>GPU reliability is shaky &#8211; some units failed or had to be replaced during operations.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Heat may be damaging systems &#8211; OPSGROUP member reports of aircraft experiencing electrical failures, suspected to be caused by overheating while waiting without APU or proper cooling.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Recent reports from OPSGROUP members highlight growing concerns over the <strong>strict APU restrictions at LFMN\/Nice.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Like many French airports, LFMN restricts APU use &#8211; aiming to cut noise and emissions. But as summer peaks on the Riviera, enforcement remains rigid despite the operational challenges this creates in high heat.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond hot cabins, new concerns have emerged: <strong>potential electrical damage linked to the airport\u2019s fixed ground power units (GPUs).<\/strong> Reports submitted to the airport remain unanswered. Here\u2019s what we know so far.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"p1\">A Little Context<\/h4>\n<p class=\"p1\">Private jet flights at LFMN primarily use the \u2018Kilo Apron.\u2019 This is the designated parking area for BizAv close to FBO facilities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The rules for APU usage are found under the airport briefing in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv.fr\/documents\/htmlshow?f=dvd\/eAIP_10_JUL_2025\/FRANCE\/home.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">French AIP<\/a>. <strong>Specific guidelines apply to the Kilo Apron:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\"><i>Arriving flights <\/i>must stop on a designated line labelled \u2018STOP ENGINE AND APU.\u2019 From there towing to your parking spot is mandatory.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\"><i><i><i>Departing flights<\/i> must be towed to start-up stands fitted with 400Hz\/28v ground power units, along with air. APU usage is limited to 10mins prior to TSAT (Target Start-up Approval Time).<\/i><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_28165\" style=\"width: 1352px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28165\" class=\"wp-image-28165 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/STOP.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1342\" height=\"590\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/STOP.png 1342w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/STOP-300x132.png 300w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/STOP-1024x450.png 1024w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/STOP-768x338.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1342px) 100vw, 1342px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-28165\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Kilo Apron at LFMN<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>Exemptions<\/strong> are very limited. You either need to be operating a medivac, state or cargo flight (carrying temperature sensitive payload). Or if the plug isn\u2019t compatible with your aircraft.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"p1\">Recent Member Reports<\/h4>\n<p class=\"p1\">Here are three recent member reports received from OPSGROUP members there.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>Report 1:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em>After towing to Stand 35, the crew connected to the fixed GPU. CAS messages flickered, followed by complete electrical failure and aircraft blackout. Despite heatwave conditions and an overheated crew, APU start was denied. A portable GPU was brought in &#8211; but it was dead. When permission to start the APU was finally granted, it was too late: navigation and communication systems had already failed. The aircraft departed under MEL and required expensive repairs at the next stop. The ramp agent advised us to file a report, which we did. According to them, this wasn\u2019t the first time such an event had happened.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>Report 2:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em>Another crew experienced a similar issue. One of two FMS units failed after GPU connection. While the cause wasn\u2019t immediately clear, the symptoms matched those described in the earlier report. The unit was removed for repair.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Report 3:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>The GPU caused a fault on our GVII upon disconnect. Our FA that understands French overheard ground personnel stating \u201cit\u2019s too hot\u201d in reference to the GPU. Surface temp at time was 24C so it was the equipment. Had to shut down aircraft to dark and restart to clear fault and get a new CTOT 40 mins later.<\/em><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"p1\">Potential GPU Issues<\/h4>\n<p>While we can\u2019t confirm the GPUs are the direct cause, it\u2019s plausible. Aircraft systems are sensitive, and power issues \u2014 including frequency drift, incorrect voltage, poor grounding, or surges \u2014 can trigger serious failures.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Heat may be a compounding factor.<\/strong> Ground air units often underperform in high temperatures, especially if hoses are blocked or airflow is weak. Aircraft may exceed thermal limits before crews can start APUs or get adequate air.<\/p>\n<p>The GPUs themselves may also struggle in heat &#8211; output may sag or drift, or thermal protection systems may shut them down.<\/p>\n<p><strong>All of this increases operational risk<\/strong> &#8211; especially when APU use is restricted with no flexibility for safety.<\/p>\n<p>And, despite being mandatory, GPU usage at LFMN comes with a charge.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_28169\" style=\"width: 724px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28169\" class=\"wp-image-28169 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Section.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"714\" height=\"342\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Section.png 714w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Section-300x144.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 714px) 100vw, 714px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-28169\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Despite their mandatory use, operators are charged to connect their aircraft to ground power.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>If you\u2019re going to enforce the rules on APU usage in summer there needs to be some flexibility for the operational safety of multi-million dollar aircraft and their crews. Quiet airports are great, but it&#8217;s easy to forget we are <a href=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2024_10_8_ENG_redevances_SPA_ANCA_2024.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">customers<\/a>. In fact, Nice is the second busiest airport for business aviation in France, second only to Paris Le Bourget.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"p1\">Mitigators<\/h4>\n<p class=\"p1\">Following an alert issued to the group regarding these reports, another member (also a fully qualified pilot and aircraft engineer) got in touch with some practical advice to operators.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>Here is what he had to say:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><i>I thought it would be prudent to post some operational hints and tips to avoid problems like this event in the future. Not just with LFMN, but with any hot weather destination with restricted APU use (i.e. most<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>of Europe).<\/i><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><i>Most biz jet hydraulic pumps demand very high KVA from the GPU\u2019s &#8211; avoid\/delay applying hydraulic power to test systems and parking brake until APU start is approved.<\/i><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><i>Keep all the shades\/sun shields drawn until packs are available.<\/i><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><i>Dim all the display units in the cockpit until air conditioning is available.<\/i><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><i>Open cargo and main door to allow air flow throughout the cabin. Small fans can run off the GFI plugs.<\/i><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><i>Open gear doors on some models as the exhaust for the avionic cooling fans use the wheel wells as the exit point.<\/i><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"p1\">Has this happened to you here, there, or elsewhere?<\/h4>\n<p class=\"p1\">Please get in touch with us via <a href=\"mailto:blog@ops.group\">blog@ops.group<\/a>. We\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n<p>For ops at LFMN, if you identify a GPU issue (malfunction, incorrect configuration, electrical hazard, emissions), report it via your handling agent to the airport\u2019s operations or safety department, or directly to <strong>A\u00e9roports de la C\u00f4te d\u2019Azur<\/strong>: +33 4 08 20 42 333, or via this <a href=\"https:\/\/corporate.nice.aeroport.fr\/contact\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact form.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Points APU use is limited &#8211; only allowed 10 minutes before TSAT, and only&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":28185,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[2296,44,2302,1192,704],"class_list":{"0":"post-28155","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-briefings","8":"tag-apu","9":"tag-france","10":"tag-gpu","11":"tag-lfmn","12":"tag-nice"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28155"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28155\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28189,"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28155\/revisions\/28189"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28185"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}