Over wing exit 319

[dazdaz1]

Hi all

Why does this BA 319 have only one over wing emergency exit
G-EUPR British Airways Airbus A319-131 - Planespotters.net Just Aviation (http://www.planespotters.net/Aviation_Photos/photo.show?id=379313)

While this easyJet 319 has two?
G-EZAG easyJet Airbus A319-111 - Planespotters.net Just Aviation (http://www.planespotters.net/Aviation_Photos/photo.show?id=361204)

[BOAC]

I think they have something like 156 pax, around 10 more than 'standard' and thus require the extra bolt-holes.

[DaveReidUK]

This one crops up fairly regularly, here's the answer from PPRuNe in 2002:

http://www.pprune.org/airlines-airports-routes/59900-easyjet-go-buy-100-airbus.html#post565091

[Dont Hang Up]

If easyJet choose Airbus it will be the A319 (slightly revised version - 150 seats, 2 o'wing exits on either side using the A320 centre section.)

Which does rather beg the question (to an interested amateur at least) why is it still called an A319? What makes it more like a 319 than a 320? And if it isn't either then why don't they give it a new variant number?

[I am not being rhetorical here. As someone who assumed that the 319 (and 318) were shortened but otherwise the same machines as the basic 320, I am genuinely interested to know the key differences other than fuselage length.]

[dazdaz1]

Thanks for your feedback, posters :ok:

[TURIN]

Don't Hang Up.
Its still a 319. It just happens to have two extra o/wing exits.

[Dont Hang Up]

Don't Hang Up.
Its still a 319. It just happens to have two extra of/wing exits.


Therein lies my confusion (using figures off a simple web search).

Looking at the basic dimensions a "typical" A319 is about 4 metres shorter than the A320 - and with the lower seating capacity it only needs one pair of overwing exits. That appears to be the only difference. Wingspan is the same. Height is the same. Engines are the same. (Range is slightly more but that could easily be due to the lower weight).

So if you stretch an A319 back to 150 seats and but back the extra pair of overwing exits, why are you not back to a A320 again?

I assume there must be lots of tweaks and technical differences that are not seen in the headline statistics that we amateurs have access to - and I am genuinely curious about what those differences are.

[BOAC]

I am genuinely interested to know the key differences other than fuselage length

Leg room plus a business class seating means less seats. Cram them in and bingo! Better still with MoL ceiling straps..............:)

[Dont Hang Up]

So I have misunderstood?

I interpreted putting in the A320 centre section as stretching.

It is still A319 length, but with more seats squeezed in. The A320 centre section is just to give the required extra exits - not to increase the length.

The penny drops! Sorry for being slow. Thanks TURIN / BOAC.

[Hartington]

Airbus have done a couple of tweaks over the years for customers. For instance, Indian Airlines (now Air India) have a batch of A320s with a double bogie undercarriage whilst the standard fit is single.

Photos: Airbus A320-231 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/photo/Indian-Airlines/Airbus-A320-231/2124831/&sid=ad126f84a2daf90156732924fb9bf0ff)

Photos: Airbus A320-231 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/photo/Indian-Airlines/Airbus-A320-231/2134581/&sid=ad126f84a2daf90156732924fb9bf0ff)

I think it was something to do with the weight per wheel (LCN?) needing to be low for some Indian runways.

[Rick777]

Internally there is a difference in fire protection for the cargo hold. It has been a while since I flew them, but if memory serves, the 320 has it and 319 does not for aft hold.

[Mr @ Spotty M]

Fire protection is an option and and as such is not always fitted on the Airbus narrow body fleets. :ok: