Speedbrake deployment A319/A320

[Avman]

Is there a max speed limit for speedbrake deployment on the A319/320? If so what is it please?

[Scallywag]

No max speed limit avman, they are cleared for use throughout the flight envelope. Just a couple of gotchas though, aren't there always.......On older models, only half speedbrake deflection is available with autopilot engaged regardless of what you select and so you have to disconnect a/p to achieve full speedbrake. On newer models you can get up to full speedbrake with or without a/p. Secondly, if faster than 315Kt/M0.75 with a/p engaged, the speedbrake retraction rate is reduced (about 25 seconds from full to in)

Scally

[Avman]

Many thanks for the gen Scallywag.

[idg]

Scally,

Out of interest on which type can you get full deployment with AP ON?

Looked in our new 320s (arrived from TLS last month) and we still have the half speedbrake limitation with AP on.

Could this be a 319 mod? Don't know that beast!

The 321 gives full speedbrake of course but it's only approx half the deployment of the 320 anyway!

cheers idg

[Scallywag]

idg/avman, apologies for both my tardy reply and any confusion, been on hols and don't have manuals for all msn's at home. I seem to be on the 321 most of the time but went in to work today and tried it on one of our new cfm engined 320's, and it is as you say idg, still only half speedbrake available on new 320 with a/p engaged. I had been told that this only applied to our older v2500 engined A320's but it is definitely on all of our fleet. I popped out the a/p and full speedbrake was available, so it does seem as though only the a321 has full speedbrake available with a/p engaged for the 319/20/21 family.

Regards, Scally.

[Human Factor]

I seem to remember (couple of years ago now) that full speedbrake in a 319 was equivalent to half speedbrake in a 320, irrespective of a/p. Only ever seemed to get an extra 500fpm and they didn't slow down much with the anti-ice on anyway. Never seemed to work really, compared to a 737.

[ratarsedagain]

FULL speedbrake available on the 319 with the AP in. However, had heard that this was equivalent to full sb on the 320 (not sure how that works when it's the same wing )

[idg]

Speedbrake deployment angles for 320:

AP Off: 3+4=40 degrees, 2=20 degrees.
AP On 3+4=25 degrees, 2=12.5 degrees

321: AP On or Off:

2+3+4 = 25 degrees.

That's why the spoilers don't work so well on the 321. My bet is the 319 is the same as the 321, but could well be wrong!!

[Expert]

As noted previously, speedbrake deployment angles for 320 are:

AP Off: 3+4=40 degrees, 2=20 degrees.
AP On 3+4=25 degrees, 2=12.5 degrees

On the 319: With AP On or Off:

Spoilers 3+4 = 25 degrees, Spoiler 2=12.5 degrees in config 3 and 17.5 in all other configs.

So in effect full spoiler selection with AP on (or off - same thing on the A319) gives full spoiler deflection which however as an angle is equivalent to 1/2 spoiler deflection on the A320.

This is also why the spoilers don't work so well on the 319, especially when you forget you are on the 319 and accidentally only select 1/2 speedbrake with AP on, in effect you are getting a deflection of only a 1/4 of what would be available in manual flight on the A320.

[wandrinabout]

Hi jacking the thread slightly, so apologies there - but any of you guys know of any good 320 or airbus operator forums or sites?

There are some useful 737 sites around eg bluecoat, 737org, now looking for similar on the 'bus.

Cheers

[airbusbatics]

Yeah, sorry for the hijacking as well...

Wandarinabout, I know of these, would be interested in any other ones as well...

AIRBUS INFORMATION

Iberia Pilots website (Technical Area)
A very good resource with a lot of Airbus information including Airbus Operational Liaison Meeting A320 /A330 /A340 - Year 2002 files and 10 th Performance and Operations conference presentations
http://www.pilotosdeiberia.com/areatec/areatec.htm


Unnofficial Airbus Study Site
Bob Sanford's Airbus Study Site
http://www.airbusdriver.net


A320 Flight Deck by Jerome Meriweather
Large scale and detailed interactive images of the Airbus A320 cockpit
http://www.meriweather.com/320/320_main.html


AIRBUS FORUMS

AirbusDrivers Forum
http://pub77.ezboard.com/bairbusdrivers


The Airbus Network Forum
A forum dedicated to Airbus fans around the world
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/airbus/


The Airbus-Discuss Group - (Highly recommend it!)
A forum dedicated for discussion of operational, technical and regulatory matters specific to the Airbus family of airplanes.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Airbus_Discuss/

Hope this helps

Airbusbatics

[wandrinabout]

busbatics,
Thank you indeed, some very useful and helpful sites there. Hope they can be of use to some others also...