Airbus is undoubtedly one of the ubiquitous airplanes known for its unparalleled efficiency, state-of-the-art facilities, compatibility, and cutting-edge designs.
Airbus A319 is a member aircraft of the Airbus A320 family (which consists of narrowbody airliners with retractable tricycle landing gear) used for commercial air operations on short to medium-haul routes. Carrying passenger numbers from 124 to 156, the shortened-fuselage model of A320, A319 travels at the maximum range of 3700 nmi powered by twin engines. This low wing, narrowbody jet airliner operated its maiden flight on 25 August 1995. Airbus A319 entered into the service in 1996 with Swissair opening up new travel opportunities and envisioning to be the world’s best-selling aircraft of all time. Manufactured by a leading aircraft manufacturer Airbus, A319 airliners undergo final assembly in Hamburg, Germany, and in Tianjin, China.
Passengers get to enjoy a stupendous air travel experience with A319’s versatility attributed to its wide single-aisle cabin, superior quality, and ability to fly anywhere from desert to icy Antarctic runways. More than 1400 such aircraft have been built so far, depicting its availability and serving a diverse customer base. American Airlines, United Airlines, EasyJet, and Delta Air Lines are the primary users of Airbus A319 aircraft.
Salient features of Airbus A319
Airbus A319 aircraft, the young member of the A320 family, can fit the engines that fit on A321 or A320 airplanes which is an advantage. The low thrust rate of 26000 on A319 with a higher thrust rate designed engine has the perk of EGT limit of the engine not being exceeded and saving the engine hot gas flow path components. It is a viable situation on commercial operations and can be used at par with A320 or A321 with fewer passengers on board at a lower percentage of the break-even point.
Airbus A319 seems to be a smooth aircraft because it is less prone to turbulence resulting in notorious low discomfort for passengers. The beautifully shaped, streamlined body of the Airbus A319 makes it look like a grown-up young lady, attracting a lot of people’s attention.
The small mainline narrowbody jet of Airbus A319 is safe, reliable, and provides quite cabin features. It also has enough range to operate transcontinental flights. A319 is virtually similar to all other Airbus A320 family types, sharing a common type rating. It implies no further training or usage costs for the pilots who are trained on other A320 aircraft series to operate A319 aircraft.
Specification of Airbus A319
Airbus A319, powered by a two wing pylon-mounted turbofan engine, can travel at the maximum speed of 871 km per hour with a maximum landing weight of 62.5t and a maximum takeoff weight of 75.5t. The aircraft has low-wing cantilevers, a single vertical stabilizer and rudder, and retractable tricycle landing gear. The addition of ‘sharklet’ winglets in the A319neo variant saves up to 15% of fuel consumption.
Interior of Airbus A319
The new cabin interior of Airbus A319 evokes a ‘home away from home’ feeling for its customers when they are on the move. Airbus A319 has mastery in modern interior design bringing a new standard of comfort and performance to customers. They get to enjoy the feeling of space and comfort as the compact continental jet performs magic with its reliable technology. Airlines refurbish these aircraft according to their needs and planned ‘interior’ designs. Putting passenger convenience and safety above everything else, the sleek twin-engine Airbus A319 offers a cabin width of approximately 12 feet, ensuring an extra-large cabin.
The first-class cabin boasts a total of 8 recliner seats in a 2-2 configuration, offering to experience the ultimate comfort for passengers. Business-class customers have seats free adjacent to them. Economy class accommodates a total of 96 standard seats. Yet, airlines specify different engines, cabin configurations, and fuel tanks to meet customer needs.
Distinguishing features of A319 aircraft from A320
Airbus A319 is identical to A320 in terms of wingspan, fuselage cross-section, height, and engines yet the length of A319 slightly differs from that of A320 aircraft. It has a length of 33.84 meters, while A320 aircraft is 37.57m long. Airbus has created all of A320’s family aircraft (A321, A319, and A318) in a semi-monocoque design. The aerospace giant Airbus removed four fuselage frames forward of the wing and three aft of the wing to make shortened fuselage in A319.
Meanwhile, A319 aircraft don’t have bulk cargo doors which may be found on some of the A320 airplanes. The single overwing emergency exit and starboard wings also characterize Airbus A319.
Design (variants) of Airbus A319
A319 aircraft has four different designs or variants, which are:
1. A319 ACJ (Airbus Corporate Jet)
The corporate jet version of A319 is appreciated by the high proportion of exclusive customers such as government, business, and private operators with limited seats and the long-range capability of 12500km as it incorporates removable extra fuel tanks and corporate cabins outfits. With a seating capacity of between 19 and 50 passengers, ACJ319 can be outfitted into any suitable configuration and offers a spacious interior.
2. A319Neo (New Engine Option)
As sad as it sounds, Airbus A319Neo is in the list of least successful A320 neo variants complementing A320 neo and A321neo. Low orders for this variant show its underperformance among other aircraft in its family in terms of sales. But not having enough order doesn’t mean A319Neo is not efficient or lacks versatile features. New engines (either CFM International LEAP-1A or Pratt and Whitney PW1100G engines), modernized improvements such as aerodynamic refinements, large curved winglets (sharklets), improved air purification system, weight savings all have contributed to 15% low fuel consumption, 8% low operating costs, minimized emission of nitrogen oxide, and less noisy environment.
3. Airbus A319 MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft)
This aircraft is the military variant of Airbus A319 designed to fulfill a range of C4ISR roles featuring observation windows, secure environment, secure communication, self-protection system, and performing maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare.
4. A319 LR (Long Range)
A319 Long Range aircraft encompasses high nautical mile capability powered by IAE V2500 engines and offers reliability, low unit costs, high comfort arrangements allowing airlines to offer an exclusive premium service to Airbus passengers. Being the latest addition, it combines the performance capabilities of ACJ with a full range of state-of-the-art qualities and equipment of premium-class airlines. The A319 LR is one of the most capable aircraft that optimizes profitable airline services on intercontinental routes and has become a superior choice for modern and comprehensive features.
Sales and orders of A319
Delivery rates have shown the large variants of airplanes to be the best sellers. A319 seems to do business well in government, business, and private jet sections than passenger operations in times when carriers pursue squeezing more seats and passengers into the aircraft. Being the second smallest member of the A320 family, A 319 melds efficiency, safety, reliability, and mid-range flight capabilities ideal to be operated as an executive and private jet.
Accidents involving Airbus A319
Airbus A319 aircraft has been involved in a number of accidents on different time periods that haven’t resulted in any fatality, fortunately. The first accident was reported on 15 May 2000, where the left overwing emergency slide inadvertently deployed in flight on the YYZ-SFO route. The aircraft suffered minor damage. Similarly, the latest incident concerns A319-111 or Chair Airlines that was damaged beyond repair by a hangar door during maintenance at Napoli-Capodichino Airport. No fatal accidents show an excellent safety record of Airbus A319).
A319Neo in competition with A220
The Airbus A220-300 aircraft made an entry into air service at 2016 end, which is a large version of Canadian aircraft. Airbus created the A 319 Neo variant competitor by endowing similar features on A220-300 aircraft in terms of maximum seating capacity and others. A220-300 costs approximately US $89.5 million, while A319Neo has a price range of about US $101.5 million. The modern C-series, A220, has made a high sales number as compared to Neo aircraft as it has been outsold and got the tag of ‘low-seller’ with only 73 orders in total. It is less versatile with regard to flight operations than A220. A319Neo is, in essence, a ‘redundant’ model encompassing a limited percentage in the business/ corporate model.
It may not be inappropriate to say Airbus is the victim of its own success, essentially having 2 of the same aircraft while comparing A220 and A319neo.
Other popular A320 family variants
- Airbus A321
The largest variant of the best-selling jet airliner A320 family, Airbus A321, possesses industry-leading quality and efficiency with top-of-the-range passenger comfort, generous floor space, expanded seating capacity. Sharing 95% of airframe commonality with its family aircraft, the Airbus A321 airliner fits seamlessly into the fastest-selling single generation aircraft fleet.
- Airbus A320
The medium-range, single-aisle A320 commenced its first flight in 1987. A320-100 and A320-200 are the two variants of this series that differentiate on wingtip fences and fuel capacity.
Airbus Company continues to excel at standards of defining passenger comfort and operational efficiency with its magnificent aircraft production.
