A321-200 & A320-200
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: hongkong
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The 321-200 can also have extra fuel in a separate 'centre' tank or tanks mounted in the rear cargo hold. These are called ACT or Additional Centre Tanks. The 319 business jet can have several of them fitted to extend it's range significantly. 1 ACT on the 321 holds about 2000kgs and is emptied by cabin pressure pushing the fuel into the normal centre tank mentioned above.
The A320 has two tanks per wing plus the vent tank. The outer tanks hold 690KGs and gravity drain when the inner tanks reach a certain level (about 1.6 tonnes I think). The A321 has just one big tank per wing. Centre tanks are an option, taken up by most I think. ACTs are commonly fitted to A321s, but are an option on the A320 as well.
The Aquatone Article
Join Date: May 2004
Location: London
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dan Winterland is right - either one or two ACTs are often fitted to A321s. Despite what Airbus would like us all to believe, in practical operation the A321 is often short on range for charter operations (Red Sea to Northern Europe, for example). You really need at least one ACT and 89 or 93 tonnes MTOW if you're hoping to fly a long way.
