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Airbus A319

1996 MODERN AIRCRAFT

History of the Airbus A319

Airbus France launched its flagship airliner product, the A320, with Air France in 1988, and the family has since expanded its main product line to include the short-fuselage A318, the short-fuselage A319 and the extended A321 derivative. All are designed to be able to engage short- and medium-range targets through a twin-engine approach. The A319 featured in this article is designed to be a short-fuselage version of the base model A320, capable of carrying up to 160 passengers in a multi-cabin configuration over a range of up to 4,000 miles.

The A319 family has become a commercially successful product for Airbus, with nearly 1,500 built (mid 2018).

Apart from the shorter body, the A319 has changed very little from the original A320. The type was developed in response to the market dominance of Boeing's 737-300 and 737-700 family of jets.

This involved reducing the overall length by removing seven fuselage sections - reducing the length by more than 12 feet. The engine of choice became 2 x CFM56-5A or V2500-A5 turbofans.

The result is an aircraft that retains the A320's exceptional passenger and cargo qualities, but now has increased range.

The completed aircraft rolled off the assembly line in August 1995 and recorded its first flight on August 25 of that year. Certification takes place in April of the following year. Swissair was the launch customer in April 1996.

The A319 is scheduled to carry two crew members (excluding support staff) and can accommodate 150 to 160 passengers depending on seating and class arrangements (one or two cabins). Overall length is 111 feet, with a wingspan of 117.4 feet and a height of 38.6 feet.

Empty weight is 90,000 pounds and maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is 166,000 pounds.

Power comes from 2 CFM International CFM56 or IAE V2500 series turbofan engines, each providing 22,000 lbs to 27,000 lbs of thrust. These are installed in the nacelles located under the main aircraft on each wing. Top speed is 540 mph and cruising is close to 515 mph. Standard load has a range of 3,750 miles (it is capable of crossing any ocean on any coast of the United States).

Its service ceiling can reach 41,000 feet.

The A319 sub-family of Jets includes several proprietary variants (i.e. in addition to the A320 family). These include the 39-seat, enterprise-focused carrier A319CJ (now ACJ319), the modernized A319neo (new engine option) (powered by CFM International or Pratt & Whitney turbofans) and the proposed A319 MPA (maritime patrol aircraft) . - Maritime military platform (designed to compete with Boeing P-8 "Poseidon") and long-range model A319LR (long-range).

A319 deliveries have dropped significantly since its introduction in 1996 (18 were delivered that year compared to two in 2018). Deliveries peaked in 2005, when 142 people found homes on different airlines, and another 137 went online the following year.

At least 30 A319neo models are on order, and although this variant of the 'neo' series has already attracted market interest, the A320 and A321 have raised some questions about their future.