Same Wings, Different Tanks

[Winnerhofer]

A340 v. A330:
Daily Kos :: Comments: How Airliners Work - Fuel System (http://www.dailykos.com/comments/1211542/50276041)

[barit1]

The DC-10 center tank is well fwd of the CG, which makes for inefficient cruise. So std. practice was to burn off center fuel first, to move the CG back to an optimum cruise condition. I suspect the A330/340-200 is operated similarly.

[tdracer]

barit1, as far as I know that's SOP for most center wing tank installations. Burning from the center, then going to wing tanks is certainly the norm for the Boeing aircraft I've worked - the only exception being the 747 with tail fuel, where they burn that first, then go to center wing.