Brake fans A330/320

[Brotti]

Hi ,
Just a quick one.. after gear retraction with the brake fans on , does it stop working or continue to work?
Thanks ,

[safelife]

They stop with lift off (weight off wheels).
It is however not recommended to keep them running throughout the take off run.

[MD83FO]

the brake fans work whenever the gear is down.

[Metro man]

It's monitored by the FDAP so if you forget to turn them off you might get a phone call.

[No Fly Zone]

As far as I know, when the "Squat Switch" says "No Load" on the gear, the fans go off. I'm sure that the do not operate when the gear is up and the doors are closed.
Not sure here, but they may stop even earlier, perhaps when TO power is applied. In most cases, when temps so indicate, the fans should continue to operate during routine taxi. It is an AB, so *more than one* event or condition may trigger the on/off for brake cooling fans.

>>my own question<< All A320 series that I've seen have brake fans, Yet I understand that this is a buyer's option. Are these fans standard gear - or are they really an optional, extra cost item? Does anyone know?

[Reimers]

f i l l e r s

[c100driver]

Yes they are an option, extra cost and a weight penalty as well. However if you are in an environment that needs them then you need them.

[woodja51]

I think there are a few reasons to switch them off before takeoff even though they do stop airborne.

I think FOD ingestion is one ( maybe ) but probably more importantly are the gyro effects on retraction( hence wheel brake application on retraction) and running electric motors in the gear bay with potential hydraulic leaks/ vapour etc if there is a malfunction.

All just my ideas... Nothing written as far as I have come across....If anyone has better ideas happy to think about them.

Of course having brake fans running would keep the stowaways in there warm and cosy longer too.... :-(

[Amadis of Gaul]

Our -320s don't have brake fans, our -321s and about half of our -319s do.

[Rocket3837]

Brake fans work whenever L/G is down whether plane in flight or on ground.
not sure if the signal is down only or down & locked.