Airbus A320 Family Ailerons
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: london
There is a video showing the A318 landing at london city Airport and looking at the ailerons from the back it looks like both ailerons are in an up position.
I know from my knowledge this should not happen , but has airbus introduced new software for this to happen.
I know from my knowledge this should not happen , but has airbus introduced new software for this to happen.
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Stockholm Sweden
Are those ones with the electronic packages for short runway ops.
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: London
Heya,
Sorry this doesn't really answer the original question but thought you might be interested.
I'm neither a pilot nor an proper engineer (2nd year Aeronautical Engineering) but I believe the A320 series has gust alleviation which deflects the ailerons upwards to reduce the load on the wing structure. (Don't ask me to explain how this is achieved with regards to control systems etc though!)
Regards
Alistair Strong
Sorry this doesn't really answer the original question but thought you might be interested.
I'm neither a pilot nor an proper engineer (2nd year Aeronautical Engineering) but I believe the A320 series has gust alleviation which deflects the ailerons upwards to reduce the load on the wing structure. (Don't ask me to explain how this is achieved with regards to control systems etc though!)
Regards
Alistair Strong
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Stockholm Sweden
The original A320s built in 87/88 had a gust alleviation system that used a pair of spoilers on each wing. There is a little nitrogen cylinder that is used to push the spoilers up. Later A320 don't have this. The ailerons are not involved. I don't know when this stopped, but 99 built don't have it.
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Miami
LAF (load alliviation function)
Its coming back for increased TOGW.
G
Airbus has started formally offering A320 customers a modification to increase the type's maximum take-off weight, available through a software upgrade to its flight-control system.
The airframer says the upgrade raises the MTOW to 78t, an increase of about 1t, providing around 150nm (278km) additional range.
Airbus is expecting International Aero Engines V2500-powered versions to be certified this month, and CFM International CFM56 variants next March.
The modification takes advantage of the A320's load-alleviation system, software which uses control surfaces of the wings - the ailerons and outer spoilers - to relieve structural loads during manoeuvring and gust turbulence.
While aspects of the load-alleviation function were originally introduced for a specific certification purpose, these subsequently became redundant. The software was removed, although the mechanical systems in the wing remained in place.
But Airbus has concluded that, with new software, it can use the load-alleviation system to increase the A320's payload-range capability
Its coming back for increased TOGW.
G
Airbus has started formally offering A320 customers a modification to increase the type's maximum take-off weight, available through a software upgrade to its flight-control system.
The airframer says the upgrade raises the MTOW to 78t, an increase of about 1t, providing around 150nm (278km) additional range.
Airbus is expecting International Aero Engines V2500-powered versions to be certified this month, and CFM International CFM56 variants next March.
The modification takes advantage of the A320's load-alleviation system, software which uses control surfaces of the wings - the ailerons and outer spoilers - to relieve structural loads during manoeuvring and gust turbulence.
While aspects of the load-alleviation function were originally introduced for a specific certification purpose, these subsequently became redundant. The software was removed, although the mechanical systems in the wing remained in place.
But Airbus has concluded that, with new software, it can use the load-alleviation system to increase the A320's payload-range capability
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Blighty
The MLA function uses an accumulator, not a nitrogen bottle. The accumulator has hydraullic fluid one side of a piston, pressurized nitrogen the other. Accumulators damp out fluctuations in the hydraullic system pressure caused by changes in demand.
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Here and there
I remember walking around a 320 on the ground and the starboard aileron was drooping down but the other wasn't.The aircraft had LAF fitted.
I cannot remember now why it does this.Any answers?
I cannot remember now why it does this.Any answers?
Last edited by tubby linton; 27th March 2010 at 13:43.
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: UK
Hi tubby,
When the aircraft are brand new, and after hydraulic pressure has decayed, the ailerons remain in their neutral position for a considerable time. With age, the leak rate past the various valves in the hydraulic flight control system increases, and the aileron(s) will droop over time. It's perfectly normal.
When the aircraft are brand new, and after hydraulic pressure has decayed, the ailerons remain in their neutral position for a considerable time. With age, the leak rate past the various valves in the hydraulic flight control system increases, and the aileron(s) will droop over time. It's perfectly normal.
Joined: Mar 1999
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From: KDEN
Left Aileron is G+B, Right Aileron is B+Y.
As the cargo doors are Yellow system powered, nearly anytime the aircraft is being loaded or unloaded the Yelllow system will have been recently pressurized, thus the right aileron is in trail and the left droops.
Edit: Yeah, the entirety of this post was in error, that's what I get for guessing instead of looking it up.
As the cargo doors are Yellow system powered, nearly anytime the aircraft is being loaded or unloaded the Yelllow system will have been recently pressurized, thus the right aileron is in trail and the left droops.
Edit: Yeah, the entirety of this post was in error, that's what I get for guessing instead of looking it up.
Last edited by Cardinal; 27th March 2010 at 22:13.
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: LHR
You're not quite right Cardinal. Yeah the cargo doors are operated by the yellow hydraulic system electric pump but when selecting a door to open or close........only the door system is pressurised. We can't have loaders pressurising the whole yellow system can we!
Joined: May 2007
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From: Italy
There is a video showing the A318 landing at london city Airport and looking at the ailerons from the back it looks like both ailerons are in an up position.
the Airbus A318 is certified for steep approach operations (from -4.5° to -5.5° FPA). In order to increase the descent capability and to cope with the -5.5° slope, the following aerodynamic configuration has been chosen for approach: GEAR DOWN + CONF FULL + SPD BRKS lever FULL (Spoilers 3+4 are extended to 30°).
At around 85ft speed brakes automatically retracts to 8°; they fully deploy at touchdown. Here my guess is that ailerons will partially deploy, assisting the spoilers doing their job (at touchdown). Thrust levers must both be at idle ...
Best Regards,
fredgrav
