United Airlines pilots on the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 fleets will stop starting the auxiliary power unit (APU) after arrival to save money, the carrier told pilots recently.
The shift, which is coming in stages, is a return to an operating procedure used by United in the mid-2000s, before its merger with Continental Airlines. As part of the change, most narrowbodies will arrive at the gate with the No. 1 engine continuing to run until the aircraft is attached to ground power. United said the switch is part of “Project Quality,” an airline-wide cost-saving effort.
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