Narrative:

The aircraft had a deferred APU generator requiring a gpu. We called 3 times for a gpu before we were ever parked at the gate (in-range; on ground; on ramp). We waited approximately 15 mins for a gpu. I observed one sitting unused over at gate. During that time; with the #2 engine running and the beacon on; rampers were in the baggage compartment unloading bags and the fueler attempted to hook up to the airplane. I was able to get to the fueler just before he hooked up; however; he was unaware and oblivious to the fact that the engine was running and the beacon was on. In other words; neither he nor the rampers bothered to verify that both engines were shut down before performing their regular duties. I spoke with a ramp supervisor about the situation and he said that operations never posted our need for a gpu to them. I also discussed with the supervisor; the ramp crew lack of initiative in trying to locate a gpu; namely the fact that; with my first officer monitoring the running engine; I had to approach a ramper and point out the gpu sitting unused. Again; he was completely oblivious that one was immediately available and in spite of my signaling that we needed a gpu; no effort was made to get one.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMB145 FLT CREW WHILE PARKED AT THE GATE WITH 1 ENG RUNNING HAS GND PERSONNEL UNLOAD BAGGAGE AND ATTEMPT TO FUEL THE ACFT AT LGA.

Narrative: THE ACFT HAD A DEFERRED APU GENERATOR REQUIRING A GPU. WE CALLED 3 TIMES FOR A GPU BEFORE WE WERE EVER PARKED AT THE GATE (IN-RANGE; ON GND; ON RAMP). WE WAITED APPROX 15 MINS FOR A GPU. I OBSERVED ONE SITTING UNUSED OVER AT GATE. DURING THAT TIME; WITH THE #2 ENG RUNNING AND THE BEACON ON; RAMPERS WERE IN THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT UNLOADING BAGS AND THE FUELER ATTEMPTED TO HOOK UP TO THE AIRPLANE. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE FUELER JUST BEFORE HE HOOKED UP; HOWEVER; HE WAS UNAWARE AND OBLIVIOUS TO THE FACT THAT THE ENG WAS RUNNING AND THE BEACON WAS ON. IN OTHER WORDS; NEITHER HE NOR THE RAMPERS BOTHERED TO VERIFY THAT BOTH ENGS WERE SHUT DOWN BEFORE PERFORMING THEIR REGULAR DUTIES. I SPOKE WITH A RAMP SUPVR ABOUT THE SITUATION AND HE SAID THAT OPS NEVER POSTED OUR NEED FOR A GPU TO THEM. I ALSO DISCUSSED WITH THE SUPVR; THE RAMP CREW LACK OF INITIATIVE IN TRYING TO LOCATE A GPU; NAMELY THE FACT THAT; WITH MY FO MONITORING THE RUNNING ENG; I HAD TO APCH A RAMPER AND POINT OUT THE GPU SITTING UNUSED. AGAIN; HE WAS COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS THAT ONE WAS IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE AND IN SPITE OF MY SIGNALING THAT WE NEEDED A GPU; NO EFFORT WAS MADE TO GET ONE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.