The Airbus A319 is a member of the Airbus A320 family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger twin-engine jet airliners manufactured by Airbus.[b] The A319 carries 124 to 156 passengers and has a maximum range of 3,700 nmi (6,900 km; 4,300 mi).[3] Final assembly of the aircraft takes place in Hamburg, Germany and Tianjin, China.
The A319 is a shortened-fuselage variant of the Airbus A320 and entered service in April 1996 with Swissair, around two years after the stretched Airbus A321 and eight years after the original A320. The aircraft shares a common type rating with all other Airbus A320 family variants, allowing existing A320 family pilots to fly the aircraft without the need for further training.
As of August 2019, a total of 1,480 Airbus A319 aircraft have been delivered, of which 1,436 are in service. In addition, another 42 airliners are on firm order (comprising 7 A319ceo and 35 A319neo). As of August 2019, American Airlines was the largest operator of the Airbus A319, operating 131 aircraft.[4]
In December 2010, Airbus announced a new generation of the A320 family, the A320neo (new engine option).[5] The similarly shortened fuselage A319neo variant offers new, more efficient engines, combined with airframe improvements and the addition of winglets, named "sharklets" by Airbus. The aircraft promises fuel savings of up to 15%. The A319neo sales are much lower than other A320neo variants, with around 1% of orders by June 2020.
Development
Background
The first member of the A320 family was the A320 which was launched in March 1984 and first flew on 22 February 1987.[6] The family was extended to include the stretched A321 (first delivered 1994), the shortened A319 (1996), and the further shortened A318 (2003). The A320 family pioneered the use of digital fly-by-wire flight control systems, as well as side stick controls, in commercial aircraft. The A319 was developed at the request of Steven Udvar-Hazy, the former president and CEO of ILFC according to The New York Times.[7]
Origins and design
The A319 design is a shortened fuselage, minimum change derivative of the A320 with its origins in the 130- to 140-seat SA1, part of the Single-Aisle studies.[8] The SA1 was shelved as the consortium concentrated on its bigger siblings. After healthy sales of the A320/A321, Airbus re-focused on what was then known as the A320M-7, meaning A320 minus seven fuselage frames.[9] It would provide direct competition for the 737-300/-700.[8] The shrink was achieved through the removal of four fuselage frames fore and three aft the wing, cutting the overall length by 3.73 metres (12 ft 3 in).[3][10][11] Consequently, the number of overwing exits was reduced from four to two. High-density A319s, such as 156-seat aircraft used by easyJet, retain four overwing exits.[12] The bulk-cargo door was replaced by an aft container door, which can take in reduced height LD3-45 containers.[11] Minor software changes were made to accommodate the different handling characteristics; otherwise the aircraft is largely unchanged. Power is provided by the CFM56-5A or V2500-A5, derated to 98 kN (22,000 lbf), with option for 105 kN (24,000 lbf) thrust.[13]
With virtually the same fuel capacity as the A320-200 and fewer passengers, the range with 124 passengers in a two-class configuration extends to 6,650 km (3,590 nmi), or 6,850 km (3,700 nmi) with the "Sharklets".[3] The A319's wingspan is wider than the aircraft's overall length.
Production and testing
Airbus began offering the new model from 22 May 1992, and the A319's first customer was ILFC, who signed for six aircraft.[14] Anticipating further orders by Swissair and Alitalia, Airbus launched the $275 million (€250 million) programme on 10 June 1993.Swissair, around two years after the stretched Airbus A321 and eight years after the original A320. The aircraft shares a common type rating with all other Airbus A320 family variants, allowing existing A320 family pilots to fly the aircraft without the need for further training.
As of August 2019, a total of 1,480 Airbus A319 aircraft have been delivered, of which 1,436 are in service. In addition, another 42 airliners are on firm order (comprising 7 A319ceo and 35 A319neo). As of August 2019, American Airlines was the largest operator of the Airbus A319, operating 131 aircraft.[4]
In December 2010, Airbus announced a new generation of the A320 family, the A320neo (new engine option).[5] The similarly shortened fuselage A319neo variant offers new, more efficient engines, combined with airframe improvements and the addition of winglets, named "sharklets" by Airbus. The aircraft promises fuel savings of up to 15%. The A319neo sales are much lower than other A320neo variants, with around 1% of orders by June 2020.
The first member of the A320 family was the A320 which was launched in March 1984 and first flew on 22 February 1987.[6] The family was extended to include the stretched A321 (first delivered 1994), the shortened A319 (1996), and the further shortened A318 (2003). The A320 family pioneered the use of digital fly-by-wire flight control systems, as well as side stick controls, in commercial aircraft. The A319 was developed at the request of Steven Udvar-Hazy, the former president and CEO of ILFC according to The New York Times.[7]
Origins and design
The A319 design is a shortened fuselage, minimum change derivative of the A320 with its origins in the 130- to 140-seat SA1, part of the Single-Aisle studies.[8] The SA1 was shelved as the consortium concentrated on its bigger siblings. After healthy sales of the A320/A321, Airbus re-focused on what was then known as the A320M-7, meaning A320 minus seven fuselage frames.[9] It would provide direct competition for the 737-300/-700.[8] The shrink was achieved through the removal of four fuselage frames fore and three aft the wing, cutting the overall length by 3.73 metres (12 ft 3 in).[3][10][11] Consequently, the number of overwing exits was reduced from four to two. High-density A319s, such as 156-seat aircraft used by easyJet, retain four overwing exits.[12] The bulk-cargo door was replaced by an aft container door, which can take in reduced height LD3-45 containers.[11] Minor software changes were made to accommodate the different handling characteristics; otherwise the aircraft is largely unchanged. Power is provided by the CFM56-5A or V2500-A5, derated to 98 kN (22,000 lbf), with option for 105 kN (24,000 lbf) thrust.[13]
With virtually the same fuel capacity as the A320-200 and fewer passengers, the range with 124 passengers in a two-class configuration extends to 6,650 km (3,590 nmi), or 6,850 km (3,700 nmi) with the "Sharklets".[3] The A319's wingspan is wider than the aircraft's overall length.
Production and testing
A319CJ
The A319CJ (rebranded ACJ319) is the corporate jet version of the A319. It incorporates removable extra fuel tanks (up to 6 Additional Center Tanks) wh
A total of 1,476 of the A319ceo model have been delivered, with 10 remaining on order as of 31 January 2018.[1] The direct Boeing competitor is the Boeing 737-700.
The A319CJ (rebranded ACJ319) is the corporate jet version of the A319. It incorporates removable extra fuel tanks (up to 6 Additional Center Tanks) which are installed in the cargo compartment, and an increased service ceiling of 12,500 m (41,000 ft).[18] Range with eight passengers' payload and auxiliary fuel tanks (ACTs) is up to 6,000 nautical miles (11,100 km).[19][20] Upon resale, the aircraft can be reconfigured as a standard A319 by removing its extra tanks and corporate cabin outfit, thus maximising its resale value. It was formerly also known as the ACJ, or Airbus Corporate Jet, while starting with 2014 it has the marketing designation ACJ319.
Starting from 2014, a modularized cabin version of the ACJ319, known as "Elegance", is also available. It is said to be able to lower cost and ease reconfiguration.[23]
A319neo
The A319neo will be part of the Airbus A320neo family of airliners developed since December 2010 by Airbus,[24] with the suffix "neo" meaning "new engine option". It is the last step of the A320 Enhanced (A320E) modernisation programme, which was started in 2006. The A319neo replaces the original A319, which is now referred to as A319ceo, for "current engine option".
In addition to the new engines, the modernisation programme also included such improvements as: aerodynamic refinements, large curved winglets (sharklets), weight savings, a new aircraft cabin with larger hand luggage spaces, and an improved air purification system.[25][26] Customers will have a choice of either the CFM International LEAP-1A or the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines.
These improvements in combination are predicted to result in 15% lower fuel consumption per aircraft, 8% lower operating costs, reduced noise production, and a reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by at least 10% compared to the A320 series, as well as an increase in range of approximately 500 nautical miles (900 km).[27]
The A319neo is the least popular variant of the Airbus A320neo family, with total orders for only 55 aircraft placed as of 31 January 2019, compared
In addition to the new engines, the modernisation programme also included such improvements as: aerodynamic refinements, large curved winglets (sharklets), weight savings, a new aircraft cabin with larger hand luggage spaces, and an improved air purification system.[25][26] Customers will have a choice of either the CFM International LEAP-1A or the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines.
These improvements in combination are predicted to result in 15% lower fuel consumption per aircraft, 8% lower operating costs, reduced noise production, and a reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by at least 10% compared to the A320 series, as well as an increase in range of approximately 500 nautical miles (900 km).[27]
The A319neo is the least popular variant of the Airbus A320neo family, with total orders for only 55 aircraft placed as of 31 January 2019, compared with 4,179 for the A320neo and 2,292 for the A321neo.[1]
The Airbus A319 MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft) is a military derivative of the Airbus A319. Development was announced in 2018[28] by Airbus Defense and Space[29] to compete against the Boeing P-8 Poseidon, which is a derivative aircraft of the Boeing 737 manufactured in the United States.
A319LR
Operators
As of July 2019, 1,246 Airbus A319 aircraft were in service with 108 operators,[33] with American Airlines and EasyJet operating the largest A319 fleets of 130 and 125 aircraft respectively.[34] The A319 is the most popular variant of the Airbus A320 family to be operated by governments and as executive and private jets, with 75 aircraft in operation in these capacities as of 2019.&# As of July 2019, 1,246 Airbus A319 aircraft were in service with 108 operators,[33] with American Airlines and EasyJet operating the largest A319 fleets of 130 and 125 aircraft respectively.[34] The A319 is the most popular variant of the Airbus A320 family to be operated by governments and as executive and private jets, with 75 aircraft in operation in these capacities as of 2019.[1]
Data through end of July 2020.[1]
As of June 2020, there have been 20 aviation accidents and incidents involving the Airbus A319,[35] including three hull-loss accidents.[36] No fatal accidents have been recorded involving the aircraft type.[37]
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
Footnotes
References
Orders and deliveries
Accidents and incidents
aviation accidents and incidents involving the Airbus A319,[35] including three hull-loss accidents.[36] No fatal accidents have been recorded involving the aircraft type.[37]
Airbus A318
References
References