History

[edit] Development

After the initial success of the A300, Airbus began developing a new model aimed at replacing the world's most popular aircraft at the time, the Boeing 727. The new Airbus would be of the same size, yet offer improved operating economics and various passenger capacities. The digital technology in the A320 would herald a two-generation technological leap over the all-analog Boeing 727 and be a generation ahead of the Boeing 737-300/-400/-500 series. The A320 was targeted at the global fleet replacement requirements for the 727 and early variants of the 737.
The planform of an A320 is well shown on this Finnair A320-200 takeoff
The planform of an A320 is well shown on this Finnair A320-200 takeoff

After the oil price rises of the 1970s, Airbus needed to minimise the trip fuel costs of the A320. To that end, Airbus incorporated advanced features including fly-by-wire flight control, composite primary structures, centre-of-gravity control (using fuel), glass cockpit (EFIS) and a 2-person flight deck. The end result: the A320 consumes 50% less fuel than the 727.

Components from various Airbus plants are transported to the final assembly plant at Hamburg Finkenwerder for the A318/A319/A321 and to Toulouse Blagnac for the A320. Nearly all assemblies are moved using Airbus' A300-600ST 'Beluga' outsized transporters.

The Airbus A320s sold to China to be delivered between 2009 and 2012 will be assembled in the People's Republic of China in Tianjin.[1] Airbus intends to relocate Toulouse A320 final assembly activity to Hamburg as part of its Power8 organization plan begun under ex-CEO Christian Streiff.[2]

[edit] Features
Swiss International Air Lines's A320 family of jets taking off at Zürich International Airport.
Swiss International Air Lines's A320 family of jets taking off at Zürich International Airport.

Compared to other airliners of the same class, the A320 features a wider single-aisle cabin and larger overhead bins along with fly-by-wire technology. In addition, the aircraft has a spacious cargo hold equipped with large doors to assist in expedient loading and unloading of goods. These features have resulted in orders from airlines including Northwest Airlines (launch customer for United States), United Airlines, Philippine Airlines and British Airways. The A320's low maintenance and operating costs have appealed to low-cost carriers, as well. JetBlue, for example, has orders and options for up to 233 jets of the A320 family. Other low-cost carriers with significant orders include Kingfisher Airlines, IndiGo Airlines, EasyJet, Frontier Airlines, Tiger Airways and Air Asia.

The A320 features a computerised on-board maintenance system. The avionics system is designed for easy upgrade without major rework. With the exception of the very earliest A320s, most can be upgraded to the latest avionics standards, keeping the aircraft advanced even after almost 2 decades in service.

The flight deck is equipped with EFIS with sidestick controllers. At the time of the aircraft's introduction, the behavior of the fly-by-wire system (equipped with full flight envelope protection) was a new experience for many pilots. Rigorous pilot training and modification of the fly-by-wire system has greatly reduced incidents related to the EFIS system.

Two suppliers provide turbofan engines for the A320 series: CFM International with their CFM56, and International Aero Engines, offering the V2500.

[edit] Technology
The Airbus A320 family is the first to fully feature the glass cockpit and digital fly-by-wire flight control system in a civil airliner. The only anologue instruments are the VOR and brake pressure indicator.
The Airbus A320 family is the first to fully feature the glass cockpit and digital fly-by-wire flight control system in a civil airliner. The only anologue instruments are the VOR and brake pressure indicator.

Technological Advancements in the A320 include:

* The first fully digital fly-by-wire flight control system in a civil airliner, hence the first with relaxed stability
* Fully glass cockpit rather than the hybrid versions found in A310, Boeing 757 and Boeing 767
* The first narrowbody airliner with a significant amount of the structure made from composites
* The ECAM (Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitoring) concept, which is included in all Airbus aircraft produced after the A320. This system constantly displays information concerning the aircraft's engines, as well