ACT Airbus 321

[deep flyer]

Gents,

anyone heard about an A321 with ACT's like on an A319 ACJ?
The ACJ boosts it's range with 6 additional tanks. Is there a 321 option -most likely also for a VIP/private 321 version- to get 6 ACT's on top of the standart fuel config?

Cheers

[SMT Member]

It is indeed an option; Finnair have ACTs installed in their A321 enabling them to go direct Finland - Canaries with a full load of punters, but I don't know how many they've installed.

[Swedish Steve]

Not only ACJ, but all A319/20/21 have an ACT option.
The Qatar Airways A319LR have provision for six tanks, but operate with only one fitted.
The charter operators in Sweden have them on their A321s as well.
There is now a new option for the A318 as well. It is different because the A318 cargo doors are smaller.
BA was talking about fitting an ACT in their A318s this summer, but haven't heard anything lately?

[deep flyer]

Good point on Finnair. However my special interest is on the combination 321 AND 6 ACT's. CG problems? Structural problems? Any 321 flying around in this configuration?

[alatriste]

The A 321s operated in my company are equiped with just two additional ACT that increase the maximum fuel load 4786Kg.
Depending on how much fuel is loaded in these tanks, the cargo to be loaded in the H3,H4 and Bulk compartments might be limited.

[Dave Does It]

Airbus does offer the A321 with either one or two Additional Centre Tanks (ACTs) in the cargo hold to add some range.

The structure does need to be reinforced to carry ACTs, however, and of course the fuel system needs to be adapted to accommodate them.

Only the A318 Elite (2 ACTs) , Airbus ACJ (up to 6 ACTs) and A320 Prestige (1 or 2 ACTs) are actively offered by Airbus as corporate jets today (they appear to satisfy most needs).

If a customer really wanted to have an A321 with 2 ACTs, then it should be possible.

[Big Bad D]

As far as I am aware, the A321 is only certified for up to 2 ACTs. This limit is understood to not necessarily be because there are any physical constraints to having further ACTs, but more likely because there has not been the demand or identified market for such additional design.

Dave Does It just beat me to the same answer!

[deep flyer]

Ok, considering a 23.000kg standart fuel capacity plus 2 ACT's -each 2450kgs- gives a maximum of 28.000kg. Correct?

[Swedish Steve]

Ok, considering a 23.000kg standart fuel capacity
No. The standard fuel capacity of all the narrow body airbuses is around 19000kg.

[Nubboy]

Steve is right. We have a mixture of A321s and 320s with none, one or two ACTs. And I never can remember which is which:ok:

[jettison valve]

Got contacted recently by a colleague for a finding of a yellowish, glue type substance in the drain system of the space between the bladder and the "box", in the angled tube that is just underneath the ACT of an A320.

Heard a voice that said it may be a small leak from the bladder, and that fuel dissolves Dinitrol in the box, and this mixture then eventually clogs up the drain line (talking about small leaks!).

I have checked the A340 ACT CMM, and there is no reference to Dinitrol.

Any thoughts? Any experience?

Regards, J.V.

[Mr @ Spotty M]

Did you search for the word Dinitrol or Airbus term TPS in the CMM?

[jettison valve]

Mr @ Spotty M,

I searched for "Dinitrol", the AI CML number for Dinitrol ("05-something", if I remember correctly), and browsed through the cleaning and assembly sections of the CMM. The only "chemicals" to be applied were 16-001 and 16-002 (again: If I remember correctly... worn out brain...), and those are paints.

No traces of Dinitrol in and around the ACT... At least in the paperwork... ;)

Clueless :confused: regards, J. V.

[Doug E Style]

For info, all the British Midland A321s have one ACT. Most of these are the ex-British Mediterranean aircraft and without the extra tank Tehran to London non-stop would not be possible.

[Max Angle]

And sometimes still isn't. We have the wrong aircraft for the job on that route.