Feed sequence
FCOM DSC-28-10-30 P 1–9 · DSC-28-20 P 6, 30
FUEL page
- The centre tank feeds first. The wing pumps run too, but their sequence valves let the centre pumps deliver first.
- IDG cooling fuel returns to the wings. When an inner tank is full, its centre pump stops until about 500 kg is used, then restarts.
- The centre pumps stop 5 min after the centre tank low level. The green crossline means off by the automatic logic.
- Each engine is now fed by the two pumps of its own inner tank.
- At about 750 kg in an inner tank, the outer tank transfer valves open in both wings and latch open until the next refuel.
- The outer fuel drains into the inner tanks, and the OUTR TK FUEL XFRD memo shows.
- Both left pumps are off. X FEED ON opens the crossfeed valve, and the right pumps feed both engines.
- The FUEL X FEED memo is green, and amber in flight phases 3 to 5.
| Centre tank pumps (drawn above) | Centre tank transfer (A320neo, later A320ceo) | |
|---|---|---|
| How centre fuel moves | Two electric pumps feed the engines directly | Jet pumps, driven by the inner tank pumps, move it into the inner tanks |
| Engines fed from | Centre tank first, then inner tanks | Always the inner tanks |
| Inner tank full | Centre pump stops, restarts after about 500 kg used | Transfer valve closes, reopens after about 500 kg used |
| MODE SEL MAN | Centre pumps run; select them OFF when the centre tank is empty | Transfer valves open; select them OFF when the inner tanks are full or the centre tank is empty |
Tanks
FCOM DSC-28-10-10 P 1 · DSC-28-10-20 P 1–4
| Tank | A320ceo | A320neo |
|---|---|---|
| Outer, each | 680–691 | 678 |
| Inner, each | 5,435–5,573 | 5,396 |
| Centre | 6,474–6,476 | 6,474 |
| Total | 18,729–19,004 | 18,623 |
- Each wing has an inner and an outer tank, with a vent surge tank outboard.
- The outer tanks keep their fuel for wing bending and flutter relief, so they empty last.
- After a full refuel the fuel can expand by 2% (a 20 °C rise) without spilling.
Overhead panel
FCOM DSC-28-20 P 3–7 · PRO-ABN-FUEL
- L, R TK PUMPS 1, 2
- Wing pumps, on for the whole flight; FAULT on low delivery pressure, not when OFF
- CTR TK PUMP 1, 2
- Run in AUTO by the logic below; FAULT on low pressure while running
- MODE SEL in AUTO
- Centre pumps run 2 min at engine start, then with slats retracted; stop 5 min after centre low level
- MODE SEL FAULT
- Centre tank above 250 kg while a wing tank is below 5,000 kg
- X FEED
- ON opens the crossfeed valve; OPEN shows once it is fully open
- Engine LP valve
- Moves with the ENG MASTER lever; closes when the ENG FIRE pushbutton is pushed
- MODE SEL FAULT comes with FUEL AUTO FEED FAULT, or FUEL AUTO TRANSFER FAULT (CTR TK XFR FAULT) on transfer aircraft. The crew sets MODE SEL to MAN and the centre pumps or transfer valves ON, then OFF when the centre tank is empty or the wings are full.
- Any one wing pump gives enough pressure for both engines through the crossfeed valve.
FUEL page and alerts
FCOM DSC-28-20 P 17–30 · DSC-28-10-80 P 3
- FOB in an amber half box
- Not all fuel shown is usable: centre pumps lost, or outer transfer failed
- Two dashes on the last digits
- Fuel quantity system degraded; all tanks up to +390 / −750 kg
- Wing quantities pulsing
- Wing imbalance above 1,500 kg, in flight phases 2 and 6
- Fuel temperature pulsing
- Above 45 °C inner or 55 °C outer, or below −40 °C, in flight phases 2 and 6
- Centre quantity boxed amber
- Both centre pumps failed or off
- Inner quantity amber
- Wing tank overflow
- WING TK LO LVL
- Below 750 kg in a wing tank, from its own sensor, whatever the gauge shows
- Memos: CTR TK FEEDG (a centre pump on), OUTR TK FUEL XFRD, FUEL X FEED, REFUELG.
- F.USED resets when an engine is started on the ground.
Limitations
FCOM LIM-FUEL P 1–4 · PRO-ABN-FUEL
- Minimum takeoff fuel
- 1,500 kg, with no wing tank low level alert
- Fuel temperature, Jet A1
- −43 °C to 54 °C (55 °C on the A320neo); Jet A minimum −36 °C
- Gravity feed ceiling, A320ceo
- Current FL after more than 30 min above FL 300; FL 300 after less; if FL 300 was never passed, FL 150 or 7,000 ft above the departure airport, whichever is higher
- Gravity feed ceiling, A320neo
- Current FL after more than 30 min above FL 300; otherwise FL 200
| Heavier inner tank | Takeoff | Flight and landing |
|---|---|---|
| Full | 500 | 1,500 |
| 4,300 | – | 1,600 |
| 3,000 | 1,050 | – |
| 2,250 | – | 2,250; no limit below |
| 1,450 | 1,450 | – |
| Outer tanks | 370 | 690 |
- Values vary linearly between the points.
- After a fuel system failure these limits may be exceeded; the aircraft stays fully controllable.
Refuelling and more
FCOM DSC-28-10-50 P 1 · DSC-28-10-60 P 3 · DSC-28-10-70 P 1 · DSC-28-10-90 P 1
- Refuel coupling
- Under the right wing
- Refuel time
- About 17 min for the wing tanks, 20 min for all tanks
- Power
- Refuelling works on battery power alone
- APU fuel pump
- Feeds the APU start when tank pump pressure is low
- IDG cooling
- Fuel returns to the outer tank, spilling into the inner tank when full
- Inerting
- Centre tank only, with air below 12% oxygen
- Automatic refuelling starts with the outer tanks. If the load is more than the wings hold, the centre tank fills at the same time.
- Inerting needs no crew action: it runs from engine start to shutdown.
Quick · Fuel
5 free questions
1 / 5
Score: 0
Fuel
Amber FAULT light illuminates on tank pump pushbutton when:
Practise all 82 Fuel questions
Free includes five Fuel questions with no account or payment card required. Premium costs CHF 15/month and unlocks all 2,075 A320Q questions across 20 categories in Quick, Exam and Streak modes.
Questions about the A320 fuel system
When does the A320 transfer fuel from the outer to the inner tanks?
When an inner tank reaches about 750 kg. The transfer valves in both wings open together, stay latched open, and close at the next refuel.
Can the A320 engines be fed by gravity?
Yes, from the wing tanks through the suction valves, at or below the gravity feed ceiling. Centre tank fuel cannot reach the engines by gravity.
What is the minimum fuel for takeoff on the A320?
1,500 kg, and no wing tank low level alert may be showing for takeoff.
What does an amber half box around FOB mean?
Part of the fuel shown cannot be used, for example when both centre tank pumps have failed or are off, or when the outer tank transfer valves fail to open.