Modern two-engine planes like the 787 have an auxiliary power unit (APU) in the tail. This is a small turbine that runs a generator and a pump for the hydraulics. It’s typically only turned on when the plane is on the ground, or if there’s an emergency in mid-air. It is also needed to start the main engines so if the APU is faulty the plane will probably be stuck where it is. In theory a 787 can take off with just one engine but this is not very safe and wouldn’t be done in all but the most exceptional circumstances.
There are variations on this depending on the plane model, of course. Some older planes can use an external starter for their engines, but I think that’s very rare now.
Aircraft with INOP APUs can generally be "air started" with a ground-based high-pressure air system. It's relatively common and I've been on a plane that had to do the procedure. It was entirely undramatic other than engines being started before the pushback, but I doubt most passengers even noticed.
Now, interestingly, the 787 is a "bleedless" aircraft, so it doesn't use high-pressure air from the APU to spool up the engines. I believe it can use its hefty bank of lithium-ion batteries to start its engines if the APU (and associated electrical generator) is INOP.
Not a pilot/engineer - just an enthusiast. Someone more au fait with the 787 might be able to correct me on the above.
My understanding is that there was a push to modify the U shaped tow trucks they use to position planes to have a battery powered system to start the engines.
The idea being that the APU isn't particularly clean burning, not compared to power plant emissions. It's been a long while since I've heard anything about that plan, for or against.
Interesting! Although it'd (presumably) only be useful for the 787, short of heavy modification to existing aircraft. Even the Airbus A350, an aircraft from the same era, uses a traditional bleed system. If planes continue down the bleedless route I can see it happening.
>Modern two-engine planes like the 787 have an auxiliary power unit (APU)
Where "modern" here includes jet airliners made in the 70s yes.
>It is also needed to start the main engines
The engines need an air source, and the APU can be an air source, but at one point at least, big airlines preferred using ground hookup provided air sources for starting, in order to save gas. Next time you fly, look at the jetway. There will be a large yellow duct system underneath it that can be hooked up to the plane to provide pneumatic pressure and air conditioning air without starting the APU. There are similar hookups for electrical power so that a plane won't drain its battery during routine turnover operations.
The bottom price flights I've taken recently don't seem to hook either up though, preferring instead to start the APU during taxi to the gate while shutting down one engine, shut down the other engine once they are at the gate, and reverse the process to taxi back out to the runway. The turnaround time is so short, and the required work to clean and restock the cabin so little, I bet they just don't pay for ground hookups.
There are variations on this depending on the plane model, of course. Some older planes can use an external starter for their engines, but I think that’s very rare now.