OLM FBW 2006 – Toulouse – 26-28 September 2006

Presented by

Zidan REN
Flight Operations Engineer

Operationwith minimum fuel

 CONTENTS

1 Fuel Policy: Minimum Fuel at takeoff / landing

2 Minimum fuel alert on ECAM

3 Operation with the Minimum fuel alert on ECAM

© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

4 Operator reports

5 Way forward

Operation with minimum fuel 2 OLM FBW 2006

 CONTENTS

1 Fuel Policy: Minimum Fuel at takeoff / landing

2 Minimum fuel alert on ECAM

3 Operation with the Minimum fuel alert on ECAM

© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

4 Operator reports

5 Way forward

Operation with minimum fuel 3 OLM FBW 2006

 FUEL POLICY: Minimum Fuel at TakeOff
JAR OPS 1.255 & FAR 121.645
The minimum fuel quantity (Q) calculated for flight planning is
defined as follows:
Contingency Additional Extra Final
fuel fuel fuel reserve
fuel
Trip fuel
Alternate
fuel

Taxi fuel
© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

IFR procedure
Missed approach

Parking Brake release Wheel touch down

DEPARTURE DESTINATION ALTERNATE

Operation with minimum fuel 4 OLM FBW 2006

 FUEL POLICY: Minimum Fuel in flight
xt ra
E
In minimum fuel operation: No uel
f
Extra FOB near destination
Final
fuel Contingency
fuel reserve 
fuel
Alternate Contingency Final
Alternate + +
fuel fuel fuel reserve

se
c lo fo r R
or te
Missed approach
f a
w
Lo ll tri
p JA R
w
Lo ltern a FA
© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

IFR
A sm
procedure
Wheel touch down

DESTINATION ALTERNATE

FOB NEAR DESTINATION CLOSE TO THE FINAL RESERVE FUEL

Operation with minimum fuel 5 OLM FBW 2006

 FUEL POLICY: Minimum Fuel at Landing

JAR-OPS 1.375, the Final Reserve Fuel should remain at

landing (alternate or destination):
Fuel required to fly for a period of 30 minutes at 1500 feet AGL, at holding
speed in ISA conditions.

FAR 121 does not provide fuel management rules: Operators

usually adopt the following rules in their operating manual:
The minimum quantity of remaining fuel at landing (alternate
© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

or destination) is usually equivalent to the final reserve:

Fuel quantity necessary to fly for a period of 30 to 45 minutes at 1.500 feet
AGL at holding speed in ISA conditions.

Operation with minimum fuel 6 OLM FBW 2006

 CONTENTS

1 Fuel Policy: Minimum Fuel at takeoff / landing

2 Minimum fuel alert on ECAM

3 Operation with the Minimum fuel alert on ECAM

© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

4 Operator reports

5 Way forward

Operation with minimum fuel 7 OLM FBW 2006

 CONTENTS

1 Fuel Policy: Minimum Fuel at takeoff / landing

2 Minimum fuel alert on ECAM

3 Operation with the Minimum fuel alert on ECAM

© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

4 Operator reports

5 Way forward

Operation with minimum fuel 8 OLM FBW 2006

 Minimum fuel alert on ECAM

For all A320/A330/A340 (except for A340-200/300)

FUEL L + R WING (INR) TK LO LVL :


30 mn holding at 1500ft AGL at green dot speed in clean configuration
© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

FUEL L + R WING (INR) TK LO LVL FINAL RESERVE FUEL

Operation with minimum fuel 9 OLM FBW 2006

 Minimum fuel alert on ECAM
FUEL L + R WING (INR) TK LO LVL caution threshold may vary:
•Fuel density
1910 L 1910 L

1470kg 1585kg =115kg LIMITED VARIATION

=0.77 kg/l =0.83 kg/l

•Aircraft pitch
Pitch up

Pitch down RELY

•Aircraft acceleration/deceleration on
LIMITED VARIATION
ECAM
© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

Fuel system design

•Aircraft roll

LIMITED VARIATION

Operation with minimum fuel 10 OLM FBW 2006

 Minimum fuel alert on ECAM
Low level sensors locations/numbers are:
A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340-200/-300 A340-500/-600

Threshold is based on fuel volume ity

e ns
D
Low fuel level is based on low level sensors
Located at a fixed position, they indicate
whether they are wet or dry

ch
low level sensor must be dry P it
© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

Located towards the forward and aft of the

inner tanks
n
a tio n
r
Confirmation time: 30 seconds ccele ra tio
Low Level Sensors A cele
De

Operation with minimum fuel 11 OLM FBW 2006

 Minimum fuel alert on ECAM
Low level sensors locations/numbers are:
A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340-200/-300 A340-500/-600

Threshold is based on fuel volume ity

e ns
D
Low fuel level is based on low level sensors
Located at a fixed position, they indicate
whether they are wet or dry

ch
All low level sensors must be dry P it
© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

Located towards the forward and aft of the

inner tanks
n
a tio n
r
Confirmation time: 60 seconds ccele ra tio
Low Level Sensors A cele
De

Operation with minimum fuel 12 OLM FBW 2006

 Minimum fuel alert on ECAM
Low level sensors locations/numbers are:
A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340-200/-300 A340-500/-600

Threshold is based on fuel volume ity

ns
De
Low fuel level is based on probe capacitances
Fuel probes measure changes in capacitance
relative to fuel tank volume

Fuel probes are used tch

Pi
© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

 Fuel probes positioned at numerous locations

within the tank
n
a tio n
r
Confirmation time: 60 seconds ccele le ra tio
A ce
De
37 Fuel probes in inner tanks (per wing) and
16 Fuel probes in the outer tank (per wing)

Operation with minimum fuel 13 OLM FBW 2006

 CONTENTS

1 Fuel Policy: Minimum Fuel at takeoff / landing

2 Minimum fuel alert on ECAM

3 Operation with the Minimum fuel alert on ECAM

© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

4 Operator reports

5 Way forward

Operation with minimum fuel 14 OLM FBW 2006

 CONTENTS

1 Fuel Policy: Minimum Fuel at takeoff / landing

2 Minimum fuel alert on ECAM

3 Operation with the Minimum fuel alert on ECAM

© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

4 Operator reports

5 Way forward

Operation with minimum fuel 15 OLM FBW 2006

 Operationwith minimum fuel alert on ECAM
FUEL L + R WING (INR) TK LO LVL is triggered
A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340

NO RESTRICITION NO RESTRICTION
IN PITCH IN G LOAD
© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

The engine feed fuel pumps have Although the collector cells are not
2 pick-ups (FWD and AFT parts maintained full, the flow of the fuel
of the engine feeding tank) to out of the cell is restricted and
cater for the pitch attitude range. engine feed lines contain an air
release valve.
Collector cell Engine feed pump

Operation with minimum fuel 16 OLM FBW 2006

 Operationwith minimum fuel alert on ECAM
FUEL L + R WING (INR) TK LO LVL is triggered
A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340

NO RESTRICTION NO RESTRICTION
IN PITCH IN G LOAD
© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

The pumps located in the Jet pumps and clack

collector cell pick up fuel valves ensure that the
directly from the bottom of collector cells are
the pump canister. maintained full.
Collector cell Engine feed pumps

Operation with minimum fuel 17 OLM FBW 2006

 Operationwith minimum fuel alert on ECAM
FUEL L + R WING (INR) TK LO LVL is triggered
A318/A319/A320/A321 A330/A340

NO RESTRICTION IN ROLL

LO LVL sensors and

engine feed fuel pumps
are located in the same
© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

wing area: given the wing

geometry, the pumps will
still be filled with fuel
even during bank
manoeuvres.
Collector cell Engine feed pumps
Low Level Sensors

Operation with minimum fuel 18 OLM FBW 2006

 CONTENTS

1 Fuel Policy: Minimum Fuel at takeoff / landing

2 Minimum fuel alert on ECAM

3 Operation with the Minimum fuel alert on ECAM

© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

4 Operator reports

5 Way forward

Operation with minimum fuel 19 OLM FBW 2006

 CONTENTS

1 Fuel Policy: Minimum Fuel at takeoff / landing

2 Minimum fuel alert on ECAM

3 Operation with the Minimum fuel alert on ECAM

© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

4 Operator reports

5 Way forward

Operation with minimum fuel 20 OLM FBW 2006

 Operatorreports

FUEL L + R WING (INR) TK LO LVL is sometimes triggered

in approach

Affect the Flight Crew workload during the approach phase

When the auxiliary tanks are empty, some procedure lines are
© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

not always necessary

A340-200/300 are prone to this caution

Operation with minimum fuel 21 OLM FBW 2006

 REVIEW OF THE A340-200/300A/C

FUEL L+R WING TK LO LVL threshold higher than the rest of the fleet:
s ign int
 D e stra
C on
50mn holding at 1500 ft AGL at green dot speed in clean configuration


To compensate for the FUEL L+R WING TK LO LVL threshold:
 LAND ASAP delayed for 20 minutes:
© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

Fuel remaining rit y e r

il a th
 i m
S the o
30 mn holding at 1500ft AGL th W
wi F B
at green dot speed in clean configuration

FINAL RESERVE FUEL
Operation with minimum fuel 22 OLM FBW 2006
 REVIEW OF THE A340-200/300A/C
To prevent applying all ECAM actions of FUEL L+R WING TK LO LVL
(manage flight crew workload), anticipated FUEL L+R WING TK LO
LEVEL paper procedure is proposed by A340-200/300 operators :
Apply the following procedure, at the flight crew's discretion, if the
expected FOB at destination is 6 tons or less:

Just prior to descent, check

on the Fuel SD page:
- CTR TANK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Check empty

- T TANK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Check empty

© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

- OUTR TANK . . . . . . . . . . . . . Check empty

Note: If any of these tanks is not empty, the

flight crew shall not continue with this
procedure. Normal ECAM discipline applies.

Operation with minimum fuel 23 OLM FBW 2006

 REVIEW OF THE A340-200/300A/C

If FUEL L+R WING TK LO LVL caution is triggered:

- WING PUMPS . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . ON
-X FEED 1+2+3+4 . . . . . . . . . . . . ON

Note:
(1) Provided that the center, trim and
outer tanks are empty, read the
ECAM and clear it.

(1) A LAND ASAP will be displayed

© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

20 minutes after the LO LVL

warning.
C AM re
FUEL L+R WING TK LO LVL is inhibited below 800 feet AGL E e du
oc
Pr
 Technically acceptable but not in accordance with the Airbus policy and the e r
p re
ECAM discipline Pa e du
roc
 Approval from the local authority may be required to provide such P
procedure
Operation with minimum fuel 24 OLM FBW 2006
 CONTENTS

1 Fuel Policy: Minimum Fuel at takeoff / landing

2 Minimum fuel alert on ECAM

3 Operation with the Minimum fuel alert on ECAM

© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

4 Operator reports

5 Way forward

Operation with minimum fuel 25 OLM FBW 2006

 CONTENTS

1 Fuel Policy: Minimum Fuel at takeoff / landing

2 Minimum fuel alert on ECAM

3 Operation with the Minimum fuel alert on ECAM

© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

4 Operator reports

5 Way forward

Operation with minimum fuel 26 OLM FBW 2006

 WAY FORWARD

Conditioned the procedure line (for the auxiliary tanks) of the

FUEL L + R WING (INR) TK LO LVL
© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

20 minutes later
For A340-200/300
Operation with minimum fuel 27 OLM FBW 2006
 WAY FORWARD


Subject to review before any changes are considered (this
includes a review of system safety cases)


Decision to implement such improvement:
© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

…To be confirmed

For the A340-200/300

Operation with minimum fuel 28 OLM FBW 2006

 CONCLUSION

• In minimum fuel operation, Fuel On Board (FOB) near destination

can be close to the Final Fuel Reserve.

•FUEL L + R WING (INR) TK LO LVL threshold is roughly similar

to the Final Fuel Reserve quantity except for the A340-200/300.

•The A340-200/300 FUEL L + R WING TK LO LVL threshold is higher

but:
LAND ASAP display is delayed
Review is in progress for a possible ECAM procedure change
© AIRBUS 2006 S. A. S. All ri ghts reserv ed. Conf identi al and proprietary doc ument.

•Rely on the FUEL L + R WING (INR) TK LO LVL caution as the

threshold has limited variation.

•When FUEL L + R WING (INR) TK LO LVL is triggered there

are no specific manoeuvre restrictions.
Operation with minimum fuel 29 OLM FBW 2006