A320 Family Introduction

Main ideas / lessons conveyed

• Purpose of the course

  • The course covers the A318, A319, A320, and A321 because they share the same type rating.
  • “A320” is used as the generic term, with occasional references to the other three when needed.

• Aircraft family overview

  • The A320 family is described as the most advanced single-aisle aircraft family in service today.
  • A common distinguishing feature: fly-by-wire (FBW) flight controls.
  • The A318/A319/A320/A321 are:
    • Twin-engine
    • Subsonic
    • Medium-range

• Engines / power plant options

  • The family offers a choice of power plants:
    • A319/A320/A321: International Aero Engines (IAE)
    • A318: Pratt & Whitney and CFM International (as stated in subtitles)

• Key dimension differences within the family

  • A318, A319, A320, and A321 share the same dimensions, except for length-related changes:
    • A318: 6.11 m (20 ft 1 in) shorter and 0.70 m (2 ft 4 in) higher than the A320.
    • A319: 3.73 m (12 ft 3 in) shorter.
    • A321: 6.93 m (22 ft 9 in) longer.

• Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)

  • The subtitles list MTOW values for each model:
    • A318: 70.5 tonnes (162,000 lb)
    • A319: 66 tonnes (145,500 lb)
    • A320: 64 tonnes (141,000 lb)
    • A321: 83 tonnes (183,000 lb)
  • Note: the ordering in the subtitles appears inconsistent—some weights may be mismapped to the wrong model due to auto-caption errors.

• Range figures

  • Stated maximum ranges:
    • A320: 2,900 nautical miles
    • A318: 2,900 nautical miles (as stated)
    • A319: 3,000 nautical miles
    • A321: 2,700 nautical miles
  • Note: the subtitles contain apparent inconsistencies—these may be captioning errors.

• Typical cabin layout / seat counts

  • “Typical two-class layouts” are given as maximum seat availability:
    • A318: up to 129 seats
    • A319: up to 145 seats
    • A320: up to 180 seats
    • A321: up to 220 seats (subtitle indicates “a320 one 220 seats,” but context implies A321)

• Cockpit layout and instruments

  • Crew seating: adjustable seats for two crew members, plus:
    • a third occupant seat
    • a folding seat for a fourth occupant depending on configuration
  • Cockpit controls location
    • Many system controls are on the overhead panel, divided into:
      • Forward section: system panels
      • Aft section: mainly the circuit breaker panel
  • FCU (Flight Control Unit)
    • Includes EFIS controls
    • Used for controlling/monitoring Auto Flight System (AFS)
    • Located on the glare shield
  • Warning lights
    • Master Warning and Master Caution lights are also on the glare shield
  • Main instrument panel displays
    • Six CRTs (Cathode Ray Tubes):
      • 2 dedicated to ECAM: “electronic centralized aircraft monitoring (ECAM)”
      • 2 primary flight displays (PFDs)
      • 2 navigation displays (NDs)
    • Also on the main instrument panel:
      • standby instruments
      • landing gear controls
  • Model-specific display differences
    • A318: CRTs replaced by LCDs
    • Standby instruments integrated into the ISIS (Integrated Standby Instrument System)

• Control panels / side consoles

  • Center pedestal control panels include:
    • Thrust levers and thrust reverser levers
    • Pitch trim wheels
    • Flaps and slats controls
    • Brakes controls
    • MCD (as stated)
  • Side sticks and nosewheel steering
    • Side sticks and nosewheel steering handles are mounted on side consoles
  • Side consoles also provide:
    • documentation stowage
    • oxygen masks
    • communication devices

• “Lights out philosophy”

  • In normal operation, the cockpit uses minimal illumination:
    • No lights are eliminated (subtitle phrasing suggests “lights out philosophy”).
    • Many illuminated push-buttons have two stable positions:
      • Pressed in (recessed): system activation (e.g., AUTO / ON, temporary activation, on override for maintenance/override as applicable)
      • Released out (flush with the panel): system deactivation
    • Some push buttons have only one stable position:
      • When pushed, they send a control signal to the system

• Push-button light colors

  • Illuminated push-buttons and associated “enunciate” lights use different colors by function.
  • In normal operation (as stated):
    • Only green lights, and sometimes blue lights
  • Example given: light test configuration (context: demonstration/confirmation of light behavior)

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Methodology / instructional format

(No explicit multi-step procedure is provided; however, the subtitles explain control behaviors as a “logic” format.)

• Lights-out push-button logic
  • For most illuminated push-buttons (two stable positions):
    1. Pressed in / recessed
       • Sends a control signal to activate the associated system
       • Activation modes can include:
         • AUTO
         • ON
         • temporary activation
         • ON for maintenance
         • override (OVR)
    2. Released out / flush
       • Sends a control signal to deactivate the associated system
       • Example label seen: OFF
  • For some illuminated push-buttons (one stable position):
    • Released out
      • When pushed, it sends a control signal to the system
  • Light color usage in normal operation:
    • Green (and sometimes blue) indicates relevant operational states/functions
    • Example mentioned: light test configuration

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Speakers or sources featured

• No individual speaker is identified in the subtitles.
• Source attribution: none mentioned (no documents, authors, or channels referenced in the subtitle text).