Auxiliary Power International (APIC) is now wholly-owned by Sundstrand, after the company acquired Labinal's 50% stake in the company late in 1996. APIC, which is to be integrated into Sundstrand's San Diego, California-based Power Systems division, was formed by the US company and France's Labinal in 1989, to produce APUs for the airliner market. Labinal is understood to have favoured the sale because APU production is not its core business, whereas Sundstrand has a substantial range of commercial APUs of its own. Labinal will remain a major subcontractor on the APICrange, and has agreed to continue providing support services for up to two years. Sundstrand says that for the foreseeable future, the APIC's products will continue to be marketed under the APICbanner.
APS2000
The APS2000 is supplied for the 737-300/400/500 family, in competition with AlliedSignal's 36-280[B]. As AlliedSignal's 131-9[B] has been selected exclusively for the next-generation 737-600/700/800 family, the future of APIC's APS2000 is very much tied to Boeing's plans for phasing out the current-generation family, which is unlikely to remain in production later than 2001. More than 400 APS2000s have been delivered, and over 50 remain on order.
APS2100
The APS2100 is being developed for the MDC MD-95, and other planned aircraft in the 100-seat category, such as China's AirExpress AE-100 and the IPTN N2130. APIC says the APS2100 will also be suitable for "other 70-130-passenger variants". APIC says the unit has passed its critical design review, and preliminary installation design has been completed. The APS2100 is due to have its first flight in April 1998, on the MD-95.
APS3200
The APS3200 is offered for the Airbus A319/320/321, rivalling AlliedSignal's 36-300. Although it arrived on the market several years after the 36-300, the unit has sold well, helped by the decisions of Air France, Air Inter, All Nippon, Dragonair, Egyptair, Lufthansa and United Airlines to retrofit a total of 130 aircraft originally delivered with AlliedSignal APUs.
APIC says that the APS3200 has the potential for power-output growth of 26%, from the largest current member of the family, which is fitted to the A321-200. The APS3200 was cleared for 120min ETOPS by the European Joint Airworthiness Authorities in July 1996.
Source: Flight International
