Expert: Heiko Hanusch - 5/21/2009

Question
hello
please could you please tell me 2s tarting system for a  gas turbine engine other that an A.P.U
thank you jamie

Answer
Jamie,

Thanks for your question.

As you mentioned for a Turbine engine the APU (if operating and installed) is the preferred way for engine start, however another way would be external air (also referred to as a Huffer cart) which is nothing but air from a bottle under high pressure. Some Turbine engine can be started by batteries (hence no air required ) that method is used mainly for Turboprop type turbines because of their light core. Yet another way to start a turbine engine is to use another turbine (referred to as a crossbleed start) which is already running and just using some of the air that is moving through it to start the other engine.

I hope this helps some,

H2