Calling A320s "Minibuses"
Thread Starter
Calling A320s "Minibuses"
I seem to recall that ATCOs used to refer to A320s as "Minibuses". Presumably someone used the phrase and it stuck in the same way as '747 classic'. Can anyone tell me when this usage stopped and the reason. Was it the introduction of the A319 or some other reason such as someone mixing up an A320 with a Ford Transit van at some stage?
The term was first introduced when the little Airbus first appeared. Until then, the only Airbus aircraft in service were the A300 and the A310, then the tiddly little 320 appeared - so it became known as the 'mini-bus'!
Term was certainly used by BA pilots when they took delivery of the initial ex-BCAL order for A320's. Used to hear them using it when they contacted Heathrow Approach and give their aircraft type - "We are a minibus with Golf".
