A320 – SHARKLETS INTRODUCTION

QTR – FLIGHT OPERATIONS ENGINEERING

[email protected]

QTR/FO/485
Rev 1.1 (28 OCT 2013) 1
Sharklets Introduction

• This presentation is aimed to provide :
 an overview on A320 Sharklet aircraft 
 Impacts of sharklet introduction (performance, 
manuals, fuel savings,..) 
 Impacts detailed per flight phases

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Sharklets Overview

3
Sharklet general arrangement

• An Airbus designed large wing tip device called a “sharklet”

improving the aerodynamic performance of the aircraft

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Sharklet design

5
Sharklets retrofit

3 routes to sharklet installation

• “Line fit”: aircraft delivered with modified
structure and flight computers , plus the
sharklets

• “Production retrofit”: aircraft delivered

with modified Central Wing Box and wing
structure. Sharklets and flight computer
functionality retrofitted in-service

• “In-service retrofit”: Wing structure

reinforcement, Sharklets and flight
computer functionality retrofitted in-
service

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Sharklets retrofit - QTR

• Line Fit :
 A7-AHV (MSN 5182) – delivery postponed until further notice
• Production Retrofit (November 2013)
A7-AHW (MSN 5217)
A7-AHX (MSN 5361)
A7-AHY (MSN 5395)
• In-service Retrofit (target Early 2014):
Program still under evaluation

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Impacts of Sharklets introduction

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Sharklets – Expected improvements

> 100 nm 500kg more Up to 3t > 3.5 % fuel

more range payload more TOW savings

Note : These are Airbus expected improvements. The real improvements

for Qatar Airways are being evaluated by Flight Ops Engineering.

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Sharklets - Documentation Impact

AFM / FCOM
• performance improvements
• Sharklet impact on systems

MEL
• Slight impact on MEL

FCTM
• No impact on crew qualification – same type rating
• Mainly on familiarization training

CDL
• Same CDL items as per current fleet (except wing tip)
• Update of static discharger (dispatch conditions)

WBM
• minor change – mainly A/C dimensions
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 Impacts of Sharklets
Detailed per Flight phases

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Sharklets impact – Flight phases

TRAINING same qualif

FLIGHT MTOW MEL PERF
PREPARATION
EXTERIOR SOP CDL
INSPECTION
TAXI a/c dimensions classification manoeuvring
TAKEOFF performance Extended Flex Contami. RWY
2nd SEC. CLIMB climb gradient
CRUISE Max Altitude Opt. Altitude
DESCENT Landing dist.
APPROACH CAT II/CAT III ACG MISC
LANDING Overwt. LDG

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Sharklets impact – Training

TRAINING same qualif.

FLIGHT
PREPARATION
Same type rating
EXTERIOR
INSPECTION • No impact on crew qualification – same type rating
TAXI • Just familiarization training (differences)

TAKEOFF • The aircraft handling qualities are unchanged with

the Sharklet. The flight crew feeling does not
2nd SEC. CLIMB change.
CRUISE • There is no simulator standard specifically dedicated
to the Sharklet.
DESCENT

APPROACH

LANDING

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Sharklets impact – Flight Preparation

FLIGHT MTOW
PREPARATION
EXTERIOR New weight variants :
INSPECTION
TAXI QTR A320 QTR A320
NO SHARKLET SHARKLET
TAKEOFF
MTOW 77 Tonnes 78 Tonnes
2nd SEC. CLIMB
MLW 66 Tonnes 66 Tonnes
CRUISE

DESCENT
MZFW 62.5 Tonnes 62.5 Tonnes

APPROACH

LANDING

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Sharklets impact – Flight Preparation

FLIGHT MTOW MEL

PREPARATION
EXTERIOR MEL:
INSPECTION
• No impact on “dispatchability” of the MEL
TAXI
• Just performance penalties modified (Transparent to
TAKEOFF pilots because LPC calculations)
2nd SEC. CLIMB

CRUISE

DESCENT

APPROACH

LANDING

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Sharklets impact – Flight Preparation

FLIGHT MTOW MEL

PREPARATION
EXTERIOR MEL:
INSPECTION
• additional weight limitations for some items
TAXI
• MTOW is limited to 76.400 Kg for :
TAKEOFF -27-64-01 Spoiler 5
-27-64-03 Spoiler 2 or 4
2nd SEC. CLIMB
-27-64-05 Spoilers 3 and 4
CRUISE -27-94-01 SEC 1
-27-94-02 SEC 2
DESCENT

APPROACH

LANDING

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Sharklets impact – Flight Preparation

FLIGHT MTOW MEL PERF

PREPARATION
EXTERIOR
INSPECTION
LPC NG takes into account all Sharklets
TAXI
benefits
TAKEOFF

2nd SEC. CLIMB

CRUISE

DESCENT

APPROACH

LANDING

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Sharklets impact – Exterior Inspection

FLIGHT
PREPARATION
EXTERIOR SOP
INSPECTION
TAXI
SOP:
TAKEOFF • Slight change : check of sharklet condition instead of
wing tips
2nd SEC. CLIMB

CRUISE

DESCENT

APPROACH

LANDING

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Sharklets impact – Exterior Inspection

FLIGHT
PREPARATION
EXTERIOR SOP CDL
INSPECTION
TAXI
CDL:
TAKEOFF
• Only one static discharger may be missing per Sharklet
2nd SEC. CLIMB if the hole is covered with high speed tape.
CRUISE • If damaged sharklet :
• Airbus is currently in discussion with EASA to study
DESCENT
the possibility of a ferry flight with one Sharklet
APPROACH replaced by a Wing Tip Fence.
• However, this configuration is not certified for
LANDING
the time being.

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Sharklets impact – Taxi

FLIGHT
PREPARATION
EXTERIOR
INSPECTION
TAXI a/c dimensions
TAKEOFF

2nd SEC. CLIMB

CRUISE

DESCENT

APPROACH

LANDING

REF : FCOM DSC-20-20

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Sharklets impact – Taxi

FLIGHT A320 Overall A/C Span inside the 36m requirement of ICAO code C
PREPARATION Sharklet installation does not change A320 Family ICAO airport classification.
EXTERIOR
INSPECTION
TAXI a/c dimensions classification

TAKEOFF

2nd SEC. CLIMB

CRUISE

DESCENT

APPROACH

LANDING
Sharklets impact – Taxi

FLIGHT
PREPARATION
REF : FCOM DSC-20-20
EXTERIOR
INSPECTION
TAXI a/c dimensions classification manoeuvring

TAKEOFF

2nd SEC. CLIMB R4 : minimum

turning radius
CRUISE

DESCENT

APPROACH

LANDING

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Sharklets impact – Takeoff

FLIGHT
PREPARATION
EXTERIOR
INSPECTION
TAXI

TAKEOFF performance
2nd SEC. CLIMB
• The Sharklet improves the second segment
CRUISE
performance, which improves the efficiency on
DESCENT airports limited by obstacles or specific gradient
conditions.
APPROACH
• LPC NG takes into account sharklets effects.
LANDING

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Sharklets impact – Takeoff

FLIGHT
PREPARATION
EXTERIOR
INSPECTION
TAXI

TAKEOFF performance Extended Flex

2nd SEC. CLIMB

CRUISE
No Extended Flex For A320 Sharklet a/c
• Normal Flex (ISA + 55C)
DESCENT
• Extended Flex (ISA +72C)
APPROACH

LANDING

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Sharklets impact – Takeoff

FLIGHT
PREPARATION REF : FCOM PER-TOF-CTA-40
EXTERIOR
INSPECTION
TAXI

TAKEOFF performance Extended Flex Contami. RWY

2nd SEC. CLIMB
New runway contaminant:
CRUISE
• For takeoff, new runway
DESCENT
contaminant are available:
APPROACH -Dry snow 2/5" (10 mm)
-Dry snow 5" + 1/8" (130 mm)
LANDING
-Wet snow 1/5" (5 mm)
-Wet snow 3/5" (15 mm)
-Wet snow 6/5" (30 mm)
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Sharklets impact – Climb

FLIGHT
PREPARATION
EXTERIOR
INSPECTION
TAXI

TAKEOFF

2nd SEC. CLIMB climb gradient

CRUISE Better climb gradient
DESCENT • For Turn Procedures, the takeoff and climb trajectories
of A320 aircraft equipped with Sharklets will be higher
APPROACH than the ones for A320 aircraft equipped with wingtips
LANDING • A320 Sharklet has higher gradient loss during turn
than Wing Tip Fence aircraft. But, the absolute climb
gradient of aircraft equipped with Sharklets remains
better than with wingtips.
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Sharklets impact – Cruise

FLIGHT
PREPARATION Maximum Altitude
EXTERIOR • The Sharklet does not have any impact on the
INSPECTION environmental envelope. The maximum altitude for
TAXI airport operations remains 39800 ft for A320.
• Higher Optimum Altitude
TAKEOFF

2nd SEC. CLIMB

CRUISE Max / Opt ALT

DESCENT

APPROACH

LANDING

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Sharklets impact – Descent

AUTOMATIC LANDING ON DRY RUNWAY

FLIGHT
PREPARATION A320
EXTERIOR
Non Landing dist.
INSPECTION Sharklet
TAXI

TAKEOFF A320
2nd SEC. CLIMB Sharklet
CRUISE
REF : FCOM PER-LDG-DIS-RLA
DESCENT Landing dist.
APPROACH
Landing distances calculation
LANDING
• The Autoland landing distance increment is modified
(the AFM and FCOM have been updated accordingly).

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Sharklets impact – Approach

FLIGHT Maximum Wind conditions for CAT II or CAT III

PREPARATION
• Automatic rollout crosswind limitations: 15kt (20 kt for
EXTERIOR non sharklet A320)
INSPECTION
TAXI

TAKEOFF

2nd SEC. CLIMB

CRUISE

DESCENT

APPROACH CAT II/CAT III REF : FCOM LIM-22-20

LANDING

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Sharklets impact – Approach

FLIGHT
PREPARATION
EXTERIOR Approach Climb Gradient (ACG)
INSPECTION
• The approach climb limiting weight is improved (i.e.
TAXI increased). The FCOM has been updated accordingly.
TAKEOFF

2nd SEC. CLIMB

REF : FCOM PER-GOA-ACG
CRUISE

DESCENT

APPROACH CAT II/CAT III ACG

LANDING

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Sharklets impact – Approach

FLIGHT
PREPARATION
EXTERIOR
INSPECTION
Unchanged parameters
TAXI
• The approach speeds are not changed
TAKEOFF
• The RNP limitations are unchanged.
2nd SEC. CLIMB

CRUISE

DESCENT

APPROACH CAT II/CAT III ACG MISC

LANDING

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Sharklets impact – Landing

FLIGHT
PREPARATION
EXTERIOR
INSPECTION
Overweight Landing
TAXI
• Same Overweight landing procedure applies
TAKEOFF

2nd SEC. CLIMB

REF : FCOM-ABN-80
CRUISE

DESCENT

APPROACH

LANDING Overwt LDG.

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