Aux fuel tanks on the Airbus

[Diesel8]

Just curious, if anyone has experience or info on aux fuel for the A -320. Ie size, weight, useable fuel and increase in range.

Not sure if any A-320 operators uses aux fuel, so info from the ACJ or 321 would also be appreciated.

T(h)anks,
D8

[used2flyboeing]

The ACJ introduced the AUX - Fuel system - it is loaded into the cargo bay just like a ULD & is strapped down like a pallet - the tanks are "gang-loaded" one after another - Ive heard they have a nifty interface that allows the tank to tank connection to make like a quick-change hose connect - when you install the tanks - a little french guy with a striped shirt & beret appears & turns on the aux fuel indication on the overhead panel ..It is different from stodgey old Boeing - boeing has there aux tanks located above the floor out of concern for gear up landing - floor penetrations - IE they are concerned about something as drole as safety given the extremely unlikely event of a crash .. So Boeing does it more expensively & complicatedly. Im sure a long range A320 charter would use AUX - but where would you put the cargo ??

[flynverted]

Just to add a bit more from my fueling days, I've never dealt with aux. tanks, but was told in training that there are 2 aux tanks available for the 319/320/321. Aux 1 is placed on top of the center tank, and aux 2 is placed on top of aux 1. Aux 2 is gravity fed into aux 1, and aux 1 is gravity fed into the center tank. Not sure if this is correct, but it is what I was taught

* Edited due to excessive alcohol intake*

I do recall fueling an A321 that diverted due to mechanical. There were 2 additional switches on the right side of the fuel panel near the power switch marked Aux 1 & Aux 2.

The A319'S, & A320's I normally fuelled didn't have aux. tanks.

Sorry to not be of more help.

nverted

[jettison valve]

hi,

well, I usually don`t deal with A320s (or BBJs), but there are some things I would like to throw in:

- I`ve never seen an ACT *above* the floor beams! The BBJ ACTs are installed in the lower lobe cargo compartmens as those on the `buses. I guess wheels up landings are not really much of a concern (the wing tanks are subject to rupture as well!).
Besides, in the lower lobe you can attach both the lower and the upper ends of the ACTs to structural hard points; that`s certainly harder to achieve on the main deck, especially when it comes to the "quick-change-requirements"... How would you load/unload those big boxes through a pax door anyway?

- If I remember correctly, you can put up to six ACTs into an A319CJ! I am not sure about the BBJs, but it`s certainly more than two.

- Feeding: Again not sure about Bill Boeing`s design, but the `buses use air pressure differentials (cabin vs. ambient) during normal operating conditions, and pumps in the ACTs for abnormals, for fuel xfer.

- "experience": Apparently, there has been a problem with the manhole covers and its seal (seal is forced out of its seat while installing the cover, thus resulting in funny FQIs as the bladder within changes its shape).

Cheers,
J.V.