Aircraft Factfile and
Recognition Guide - Airbus A320 Series
Background
The Airbus A320 single aisle medium range airliner first entered service in 1988. More than 2,598 aircraft of the A320 family are in service today, with 3,914 ordered. The A320 family includes the A319 and A318 short-bodied versions and the A321 stretched version. The A319 entered service in 1996, the A321-100 in 1994 and the A321-200 in 1997. The A318 made its first flight in January 2002 and entered service in July 2003. The A320 was the first subsonic airliner to have a fly-by-wire flight control system.
Airbus Industrie is a consortium formed by EADS and BAE Systems. EADS, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, was formed by a merger of Aerospatiale-Matra of France, Daimler-Chrysler Aerospace of Germany and CASA of Spain (former members of Airbus). Orders for the family breakdown as follows: A319 – 1,257 ordered and 854 delivered; A320 – 2,459 ordered and 1535 delivered; A321 – 545 ordered and 352 delivered; and A318 – 88 ordered and 30 delivered.
The A320 has over 95% commonality with other members of the A320 fly-by-wire family of aircraft. The wide cabin (3.70m) allows the use of wider seats for higher standards of passenger comfort. The cabin width provides density single class seating for up to 179 passengers or a more spacious five abreast business class or a four abreast first class seating arrangement. A typical mixed class seating arrangement has twelve first class and 138 economy seats. The flight deck is fitted with two seats, one for each pilot, with primary flight and navigation displays for the Thales/VDO electronic flight and information system, (EFIS). The primary flight display shows speed, altitude and heading data. In the centre section between the pilot's and co-pilot's instrument displays are two Thales/VDO electronic central aircraft monitor displays.
The aircraft is the first subsonic commercial aircraft to be fitted with fly-by-wire controls. Instead of having a central control column and aileron wheel, each pilot has a sidestick controller. The fly-by-wire system is supplied by Thales/SFENA. The digital fly-by-wire system is controlled by five dedicated computers. All the primary and secondary flight controls operate by a combination of electronic signaling and hydraulic jacks. Very high safety standards have been built into the flight control systems, including extensive system redundancy.
Flight envelope protection is embedded in the flight control system that will not allow maneuvers to exceed the aircraft's structural and aerodynamic limitations. It is, for example not possible for the aircraft to exceed the designated g-limits nor to fly beyond the maximum operating speed for longer than a few seconds. The aircraft's flight speed is maintained above the stall speed even if the pilot were holding the sidestick fully back, and the throttles are automatically opened to achieve a successful positive climb. The aircraft is offered with two IAE V2500 engines or two CFM International CFM 56-5 developing 111 to 120kN. The fuel tanks have a capacity of 23,860l giving the aircraft a range of 5,000km with the maximum number of passengers.
The primary structures of the A320 are of composite construction with aramid fiber (AFRP), glass fiber (GFRP) and carbon fiber (CFRP) reinforced plastics. The A320 is the first subsonic aircraft to incorporate composite primary structures. Large completed sections of the aircraft are built by EADS France (formerly Aerospatiale Matra), the Belgian Belairbus, BAE SYSTEMS, EADS Spain (formerly CASA), and EADS Germany (formerly Daimler Chrysler Aerospace Airbus). BAE SYSTEMS has subcontracted the building of the wing root shroud box to Mitsubishi. The completed aircraft sections are transported to France for assembly. The main cabin has two passenger doors on the port side and service doors on the starboard side. The cargo hold has a capacity of 27.69m³ and can hold bulk cargo or containers. Up to seven 46in-high LD3W containers can be carried, three in the forward hold and four in the aft hold.
Variants
The A320 has given rise to a family of aircraft which share a common design but are slightly smaller (the A319), significantly smaller (the A318), or slightly larger (the A321). Passenger capacity ranges from 100 to 220. They compete with the Boeing 737, 757-200, and 717. All have the same pilot type-rating. Technically, the name "A320" only refers to the original mid-sized aircraft, but it is often informally used to indicate any of the A318/A319/A320/A321 family. All variants are able to be ETOPS (Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards) certified.
A318: The A318, also known as the "Mini-Airbus", is the smallest member of the A320 family. During development, it was known as the "A319M3," thus indicating its history as a direct derivative of the A319. "M3" indicates "minus three fuselage frames." The aircraft is six meters shorter and 14 tons lighter than its predecessor. Pilots who are trained on the other A320 variants may fly the A318 with no further certification, since it features the same type rating as its sister aircraft. The A318 has a passenger capacity of 109 in a two-class configuration. It is intended to replace early Boeing 737 and Douglas DC-9 models, though it is also a rival to the current 737-600. Boeing also offered their 717 aircraft as a competitor, although it was suitable primarily for regional routes and did not have the A318's range capabilities. It is powered by two CFM56-5 or Pratt & Whitney PW6000 with thrust ranges between 21,600 to 23,800 lbf (96 to 106 kN) thrust. Launch customers Frontier Airlines and Air France took deliveries in 2003, with Frontier receiving their models in July of that year. The price of an A318 ranges from $39 to $45 million, and operating costs are around $3,000 for a 500 mile flight. On 10 November 2005 Airbus announced the A318 Elite. The Airbus A318 Elite is aimed at the medium-range market for flights of up to 4,000 nm range, with a choice of two cabin layouts seating up to 14 and 18 passengers, and will be powered by CFM engines. Comlux became the launch customer by ordering three A318 Elite aircraft.
A319: This is a shortened, minimum change version of the A320. With virtually same fuel capacity as the A320-200, and fewer passengers, the range with 124 passengers in 2-class configuration extends to 3,900 nautical miles (7200 km), the highest in its class. The A320 and A319 are the most popular variants of the A320 family. In 2003 easyJet took delivery of A319s with smaller galleys (as easyJet does not serve meals) and 156 seats in a single class configuration. To satisfy evacuation regulations additional over-wing exits were included. The direct Boeing competitor is the 737-700. It is powered by the same types of engine as the A320. JAA certification and service entry, with Swissair, took place in April 1996. The A319CJ is the corporate jet version of the A319. It incorporates extra fuel tanks which are installed in the cargo compartment giving a range of 6,500 nautical miles (12,000 km). Upon resale the aircraft can be reconfigured as a standard A319 by removing its extra tanks, thus maximizing its resale value. It is also known as the ACJ, or Airbus Corporate Jet. The A319 is used by the Escadron de transport, d'entraînement et de calibrage which is in charge of transportation for France's officials. The aircraft seats up to 39 passengers but may be outfitted by the customers into any configuration. DaimlerChrysler and PrivatAir are among its users. The A319CJ competes with other corporate jets such as the Gulfstream V, the Boeing 737-700 based Boeing Business Jet (BBJ1), and Bombardier's Global Express. It is powered by the same engine types as the A320.
A320: The A320 series has two variants, the A320-100 and A320-200. The A320-200 is the definitive version as only 21 A320-100s were ever produced; these aircraft, the first to be manufactured, were delivered to Air France and British Airways only and are the only A320s that lack the distinctive "wingtip fences". The A320-200 features wingtip fences and increased fuel capacity over the A320-100 for increased range: other than that differences are minimal. Typical range with 150 passengers for the A320-200 is about 2900 nautical miles (5,400 km). It is powered by two CFMI CFM56-5 or IAE V2500 with thrust ratings between 25,500 to 27,000 pounds force (113 kN to 120 kN). The direct Boeing competitor is the 737-800.
A321: This is a lengthened, minimum change version of the A320. The wing area is slightly enlarged and the undercarriage is strengthened, with higher thrust variants of both CFM56 and V2500. The A321's closest Boeing equivalents are the 737-900/-900ER and the 757-200, though the A321 lacks the 757's transatlantic flight range and "hot-and-heavy" operation capabilities due to less powerful engines. Type certification was awarded in December 1993 by the JAA. Typical range with 186 passengers for the A321-100 is about 2,300 nautical miles (4,300 km). It is powered by two CFM56-5 or IAE V2500 engines with a thrust rating of 31,000 pounds force (138 kN). The A321-200 has extra fuel capacity bringing the range with 186 passengers up to about 3,000 nautical miles (5,500 km). The A321-200 is powered by two CFM56-5 or IAE V2500 engines with a thrust rating of about 33,000 pounds force (147 kN).
Recognizing the Airbus A320
The A320 series of airliners are very easy to identify from the ground and in the air. Here's some tips on how to identify the A320s:
Wings: Somewhat thin compared to the 737, swept back
with wing fences - up-and-down winglets.
Engine(s): Two turbofan engines slung underneath each wing.
Fuselage: Double-bubble cross section at wing root, top of fuselage runs
into the tail on a nearly straight line.
Tail: Large rudder, smoothly meeting the fuselage at the leading edge.
Specifications
(A320-200)
Sources: Aerospace
Technology - Airbus A320, Wikipedia A320
© 2004-2007 Steven
Holzinger