FCOM: 20/1 - Limitations (radio edit)

Question 1

Manoeuvring limits?

Answer 1

Clean: -1 to +2.5g
Other: 0 to +2g

01/11/24

Question 2

Lowest operating temperature?

Answer 2

-70°C
However, the temperature increases with reducing altitude. As a general rule of thumb, above FL250, any temperature below -60°C should be checked against the “environmental envelope” in FCOM.

01/11/24

Question 3

Max crosswind for take off:
A319
A320 CEO
A320 NEO
A321

Answer 3

A319: 38kt
A320 CEO: 38kt
A320 NEO: 35kt
A321: 35kt

These figures include gusts.

NEO engines are limited to 35kt crosswind for take-off (not for landing).

01/11/24

Question 4

Max tailwind for take off

Answer 4

15kt

01/11/24

Question 5

Max tailwind for landing

Answer 5

15kt (if not autolanding)

01/11/24

Question 6

What are the APU starting limitations?

Answer 6

Start attempts: 3 (then wait 1h)
Start on battery: 25,000ft (EMER ELEC config)

01/11/24

Question 7

What is maximum altitude at which the APU can assist engine start?

Answer 7

20,000ft

01/11/24

Question 8

What is the maximum altitude at which the APU can provide air conditioning and pressurisation

Answer 8

22,500ft for single pack operation
15,000ft for two pack operation

01/11/24

Question 9

What is the maximum time at TOGA for normal operations? And for OEI operations?

Answer 9

AEO: 5 mins
OEI: 10 mins

01/11/24

Question 10

What is the minimum oil temperature for engine start and take off?

Answer 10

Start: -40°C
Take off: +19°C (NEO), -10°C (CEO)

01/11/24

Question 11

What is the minimum oil quantity?

Answer 11

NEO: 10.6qt or 8.9+ estimated consumption (whichever greater)
CEO: 9.5qt + estimated consumption

Estimated consumption is 0.45qt/hr (NEO) and 0.5qt/hr (CEO)

01/11/24

Question 12

What is the effective time on the Smoke Hood?

Answer 12

15 minutes

Question 13

What are the in flight tolerances on altimeters for RVSM airspace?

Answer 13

• 90ft at FL200
• 130 ft above FL300.
  (unlucky if you don’t remember “13”)
  This is the maximum difference between PFD altimeters, i.e., ADR1 and ADR2.
  Different limits apply if using ADR3.
  The maximum difference between the standby altimeter and the PFDs is 390ft at FL300.

01/11/24

Question 14

Maximum windshield wiper speed?

Answer 14

230kt

01/11/24

Question 15

Autopilot: earliest use on take off

Answer 15

100ft or 5s

01/11/24

Question 16

Lowest use of autopilot:
FINAL APP mode

Answer 16

250ft

01/11/24

Question 17

Lowest use of autopilot:
On approach when using selected modes

Answer 17

250ft

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Question 18

Lowest use of autopilot:
Circling approach

Answer 18

500ft

01/11/24

Question 19

Lowest use of autopilot:
Cat 1 ILS

Answer 19

160ft

01/11/24

Question 20

Lowest use of autopilot:
ILS Cat 2 or 3

Answer 20

0ft if autoland

01/11/24

Question 21

Lowest use of autopilot:
All phases of flight except approach

Answer 21

A319, A320: 500ft AGL
A321: 900ft AGL (NB- watch this if performing a fully managed approach)

01/11/24

Question 22

List the gear limiting speeds (extended/operating)

Answer 22

Max speed with gear extended (Vle): 280kt
Max speed to extend (Vlo ext): 250kt
Max speed to retract (Vlo ret): 220kt

01/11/24

Question 23

Max taxi speed?

Answer 23

10 - 20 - 30
LVPs : 10kt (OMB)
A320 CEO: 20kt in a turn if heavier than 76T (FCOM). However OMB states max speed for 90° turn is 10kt.
Otherwise, 30kt.

01/11/24

Question 24

What is the maximum altitude for slats or flaps extended?

Answer 24

20,000ft

01/11/24

Question 25

What are the limits on brake temperature?

Answer 25

Take off not permitted with brake temperature >300°C

01/11/24

Question 26

What is the maximum tailwind acceptable for a flap 3 landing?

Answer 26

10kt

01/11/24

Question 27

What are the VMO/MMO speeds?

Answer 27

350kt or M0.82

01/11/24

Question 28

What are the engine starting limitations (start attempts/cycles)?

Answer 28

One “cycle” includes 3 start attempts (for automatic starting).
NEO: wait 60s between cycles. CEO: wait 20s.
NEO: 3 cycles; CEO: 4 cycles permitted.
After that, 15 minutes of cooling requiired.

01/11/24

Question 29

Maximum fuel imbalance

Answer 29

Fuel imbalance tables are given in FCOM-LIM. For practical purposes:
If the inner tanks are imbalanced by more than 500kg, then look in the FCOM to determine if the imbalance is acceptable.
500kg is acceptable if one inner tank is full (with the other being 500kg less). The acceptable imbalance increases to 1450kg with decreasing total fuel quantity.
For landing with a system failure, any imbalance is acceptable. FCOM-LIM says that the maximum imbalance may be exceeded without a significant effect to aircraft handling qualities.

01/11/24