Originally Posted by
FlightDetent
A321 CEO is designed and certified with speeds for a category C aeroplane.
Not always the case I think.
Our A321 CEOs have a max certified landing weight of 75500 kg.
The QRH gives the following VLS:
74t: 139 kts
78t: 143 kts
So with interpolation, the VREF is 140.5 kts for 75500 kg. So just within the cat C range.
However, A321 CEOs can have a max certified landing weight of 77800 kg. This will give them a VREF or Vat of 142.8 kts. So within the cat D range. And since it's based on max certified landing weight, I think that they should be considered cat D if they have the certification of this higher weight. That was the case at a different company I worked for which had those higher certified landing weights. For the lower certified max landing weight, it's definitely cat C.
As for the A321 NEO, due to the higher flap angle in config Full, lower VREF speeds are possible which will always be in the cat C range. Even with max landing weight of 79200 kg. (VREF=139 kts for 80t on the NEO.)