GF/CF35 ACU

The Guinault GF/CF35 is a self-contained, diesel-engine-driven mobile Air Conditioning Unit (ACU) delivering 3.5 kg/s of conditioned air to aircraft cabins during ground servicing. The 'GF' designation denotes the standalone conditioning unit; 'CF' denotes the combined variant with an integrated GPU, providing both ground power and pre-conditioned air from a single machine — a major logistical advantage at gates with limited apron footprint or where minimising the number of service vehicles parked around the aircraft is operationally important. The unit connects to the aircraft via the standard PCA port and conditions cabin air to a cold outlet temperature of −5 °C to +5 °C, sufficient to maintain comfortable cabin temperatures for crew and boarding passengers in ambient conditions up to the rated limit. An optional hot-air mode delivering +65 °C outlet temperature covers cold-weather pre-heating scenarios. Engine power is provided by a Deutz diesel, the same engine family used across Guinault's GSE range. The GF/CF35 sits in the mid-capacity tier of Guinault's ACU portfolio, which spans from 1.5 to 5.0 kg/s, and is matched to aircraft codes B through D — covering the A320/B737 family through smaller wide-bodies and regional jets. On the ramp, the primary use context is APU-OFF programmes where the airline commits to shutting down the APU immediately on chocks-on and sourcing both power and conditioned air from ground equipment. Published industry data supports annual fuel savings of €150,000–€600,000 per aircraft, per year, depending on aircraft type and airport cycle time, making APU-OFF programmes one of the highest-return operational efficiency initiatives available to short-haul carriers. At 8,500 kg and 6,290 × 2,530 × 2,820 mm, the GF/CF35 is a truck-mounted or trailer unit intended for managed gate operations rather than free-ranging apron movement.