AUTOPILOT

• Airbus A320


  • Use of advanced technology and construction such as composite materials
  • Results in unmatched fuel efficiency, reduced maintenance costs, and increased reliability
• Airbus A320

  • Controlled by a computer managed fly-by-wire system
  • Offers protection against exceeding normal flight envelope
• Airbus Industries


  A consortium of 4 European aerospace companies
• Components manufactured by Airbus Industries consortium

  • Tail section, flaps, and spoilers by Daimler Benz's Airbus in Germany
  • Wing section by aerospace from England
  • Horizontal stabilizers and elevators, nose landing gear doors, and forward cabin entry doors by CASA in Spain
  • Forward fuselage and engine pylon by Aerospatiale in France
• Engines come from CFM International and all components are shipped to Toulouse, France for final assembly
• Beluga A300-600 ST (Super Transporter)


  • Based on an A300-600
  • Large enough to carry fuselage sections or two complete A320 wings
• CFM56-5 engines


  • High bypass turbofan engines producing 25,000 lbs of thrust at sea level
  • Produced by CFM International, a joint venture between Snecma in France and GE Aircraft in the USA
• Airbus A320 cockpit

  • Designed for two-man crew operation
  • Can accommodate up to two observers
• Airbus A320


  • Two large cargo compartments and one baggage compartment under the main cabin floor
  • Cargo floor fitted with automatic ULD loading system, can be delivered without the system and cargo must then be manually loaded
• Airbus A320


  • Pressurized for passenger and crew comfort, except for the nose cone section where the radar antennae are housed, the air conditioning compartment, and the APU section
• Airbus A320


  • 123 feet 3 inches long, 38 feet 7 inches high to the top of the tail, and 111 feet 10 inches wide (wing tip to wing tip)
• Airbus A320 nose wheel

  • Controlled by two algebraically interconnected steering handwheels located on the captain and first officer side consoles
  • Can steer the nose wheel up to 75° in either direction
  • Fly-by-wire system with no direct mechanical linkage between the handwheels and the nose wheel
• Minimum radius dimensions are displayed, and the green arc at the wing describes the forward limit of the aircraft nose
• The antenna for the navigation and communication equipment is installed, and there are various ground service connection and access panels
• Airbus A320 cockpit


  • Designed for two flight crew members
  • System controls arranged for ease of use and monitoring by both crew members
  • Pilots' instrument panels have six identical and interchangeable display units
• Airbus A320 cockpit controls and displays

  • Multipurpose control and display units
  • Thrust levers
  • Manual trim wheels
  • Speedbrake and flap levers
  • Radio communication panels
• Airbus A320 overhead panel


  • Extensive use of pushbutton switches
  • Contains status and failure indications following a color code (green for normal, blue for temporary normal, amber for caution, red for warning)
• Airbus A320 pilot seats

  • Can be adjusted horizontally or vertically using electrical or mechanical adjustment
  • Can be reclined manually
  • Lumbar cushion can be adjusted vertically and horizontally
  • Have a 5-point quick release seat belt and a lock-on lever for the shoulder harness
• The side arm rest can be adjusted in the vertical direction by pushing in the locking lever on the end of the armrest
• Airbus SOP calls for the table to be stowed for takeoff, but airline policy may differ
• Airbus A320 cockpit windows

  • Two for-export shields, two sliding side windows, and two fixed side windows
  • All windows are heated
  • Maximum speed limitation with the cockpit window open is 200 knots
• The cockpit windows can be used as emergency exits, and the unlocking button must be pressed, then the control handle pulled inward and rearward to open the window
• Sunglasses are installed in front of each pilot, and semi-transparent reflective roller-type sun blinds are installed on all side windows
• Airbus A320 emergency equipment

  • Located in the left rear corner of the flight deck
  • Includes the fourth occupancy seat, which folds out from the wall into a horizontal position
• The captain and first officer's life jackets are stowed in compartments on their respective seat backs, and the fourth occupant's life jackets are stowed in a compartment below their seats
• A portable flashlight is stowed at each pilot station in a holder near the floor