17. FUEL Panel (Fuel) Flashcards
There are significant differences in the fuel systems of certain aircraft in the Spirit Airlines fleet. Reference AOM Vol. 1, A320 Series FCOM, applicable Operating Bulletins, and Differences Training material for the most accurate and complete description
Generally, what is the total fuel capacity?
42,000 lbs (41,285)
Why is it possible for there to be a value higher than 42,000 lbs indicated on the ECAM FOB?
The fuel can expand by 2% without venting overboard
How many fuel pumps are on the aircraft and where are they located?
• There are seven total fuel pumps: two center tank pumps, four wing tank pumps, (two in each wing) and one APU fuel pump. On some aircraft, the center tank pumps are jet pumps, which transfer fuel from the center tank into the wing tanks.
• The APU pump is used when fuel feed pressure is low (due to loss of tank pumps or loss of normal AC electrical supply
Explain the flow of fuel from before engine start to climb (assume full tanks).
• At engine start the fuel is fed from the wing tanks
• After an engine is started, the center tank pumps turn on and continue to run for 2 minutes.
• If slats are selected within those 2 minutes, the center tank pumps will continue to run until the time has elapsed, then they will stop.
• If the slats are extended at any other time, the center pumps will shut off.
• At takeoff, the engines feed fuel from their respective wing tanks.
• When slats are retracted to zero, the fuel is fed from the center tank.
• When the center tank runs low, the pumps continue to run for 5 min.
What is the difference between CTR TK Pump on a A319 and some older A320’s (601 – 628) versus CTR TK XFR (transfer) on the A321 and newer A320’s (629 – 656, 690 – 696, 901 – 915)?
CTR TK Pumps are identical to the main tank fuel pumps. The CTR TK XFR are jet pumps that transfer center tank fuel to the main L (R) pumps.
What does a fault light in one of the L(R) TK PUMPS pushbuttons indicate?
Low delivery pressure
What does a fault light in the MODE selector indicate?
- Failure of the AUTO mode
- Center tank has more than 550 lbs and either wing tank has less than 11,000 lbs
How would a pilot know that fueling is in progress?
REFUELG message appears on the ECAM. This does not mean the fuel is entering the tanks, merely that the refueling door is open.
Describe IDG cooling and how it relates to the FADEC.
• Some of the fuel supplied to each engine goes from the high-pressure fuel line in that engine, through the integrated drive generator (IDG) heat exchanger (where it absorbs heat), to the fuel return valve, and back to either the wing tank or outer tank, depending on the aircraft.
• This operation ensures IDG cooling when the oil temperature is high or when at low engine power.
• The FADEC controls the fuel return depending on the temperature of the IDG – the higher the temperature, the higher the flow.
What happens if returned IDG cooling fuel fills the wing tanks while the center tanks are feeding?
The center tank pumps will cut off until the wing tank quantity is reduced by 1,100 lbs in the inner tanks
What is the approximate fuel capacity of each outer fuel tank, when installed?
Approximately 1,500 lbs
When do the wing outer tanks drain into the inner tanks?
When the inner tank quantity reaches approximately 1,650 lbs
If only one inner tank reaches 1,650 lbs, what happens to the other transfer valve?
All four transfer valves open
Once opened to transfer fuel, how are the fuel transfer valves closed?
Automatically at the next refueling operation as long as there is AC power on the aircraft
