JetBlue Pilots - How do you like A320?

[Starshipper]

I am a big fan of the A320 - quite a beautiful cockpit! I would love to fly an A320/A330 one day....

Questions for JetBlue pilots out there:

1. How do you like the A320?

2. How does it compare to your previous airplanes? Examples?

3. Best and worst A320 feature for you?

4. Your transition to side-stick and full glass - easy or difficult?


Appreciate your information/opinions. I hope to join you one day in a Jetblue cockpit!

Thanks!!!!

 

[JayDub]

Starshipper,

The A-320 is a great airplane. It has enough performance to get the job done! I flew smaller airplanes previously I liked the Hawker 800XP and the Lear 35 the most of those airplanes. I really think it is a tie between the XP and the Airbus for my favorite all time for turbine powered aircraft (Aztec and Navajo for piston twins).

Best feature for me is the FMS system. Although the FMS was much better in the 800XP and Challenger 601, after you fly with an FMS system you can't live without it. The same goes for an APU. Worst feature for me is the auto thrust. It is the most efficient way to fly the airplane, so I leave it engaged. I miss setting the thrust myself. I had a feel for where the thrust needed to be in the Hawkers, and it's a real sense of accomplishment when you find a specific ITT setting just by feel.

I had flown glass before so it was no big deal. Even when I first transitioned into a glass airplane, it was a lot of hoopla for nothing. Even more so with the side stick. About half way through the second sim period, you realize you are doing something a little different.

Good luck and keep building the time. They are putting more emphasis on PIC jet than they ever had before, so find a jet captain job as soon as you can. Take care.


Jaydub

P.S.
PM your e-mail address and I'll send you a couple of pictures of the airplane I have. JeffG might have more too, I'll have to ask.

 

[jointops]

Starshipper,

I've flown the Bus for 2 different airlines now and I loved it from the minute I saw the cockpit.

However, to answer some of your questions recognize I've flown 3 different models. So I'll compare the 320 to the 319 and the 321.

The 320 doesn't have the range of the 319, so even in the summer tech stops in DEN or SEA are a concern. I just experienced that 2 weeks ago and was shocked that even in the summer it can be touch and go (no pun intended).

The 320 also has a floating tendency on landing that you don't get in the 319 or the 321. The 321 (due to it's additional weight and length) isn't nearly as pitch sensitive in turbulence as the 320.

That's all I can think of to help you identify where there might be a weakness on the 320. Not too much to complain about, eh?

That ought to take care of the first 2 questions.

Next, my favorite feature is the pull out tray. No kidding. Well that and the numerous foot rests that are available since there is no yoke. No laughing. After 4 hours, cockpit comfort is a pretty basic need. Wish we had the foot warmers now that I think of it.

Transition to side stick maybe half a sim worth of time. Since I've only flown glass aircraft your final question I couldn't honestly answer.

Hope that helps. Did I mention the cockpit is carpeted? Geez what a great job!!!

Happy landings and keep up the work.

 

[Eagleflip]

I love the A320, but I cannot compare it to any other "heavy" jet out there, as I came up through the AF fighter ranks. Nope, it doesn't roll as quickly as an Eagle, but then again I think most passengers don't want it to in the first place.

The best feature? The automation inherent in the FMS. By the way, I would not have said this prior to starting this job; philosophically, most fighter types want to be in direct control of the jet at all times. But, all things considered, allowing George to fly the jet while I monitor makes perfect sense. There aren't any quick movements that have to be made (e.g. no break turns or defensive maneuvers, a la fighters), so flying "hands-off" is the safest way to fly the aircraft. And safe is the name of the game.

The worst thing about the 320? Easy...the dang incoming intercom message tone. Think about it--the Airbus has a pleasant, and relatively low volume, chiming tone to warn of an engine fire or serious emergency. It'll chime once in the event of a lesser emergency. No one misses these warnings, so the volume must be ok.

But when the #1 flight attendant wants to get your attention, "BEEEEEEEEPPPPP!" Oh my buddah! At 140 dB, that'll retrieve your mind from the arms of Morpheus in a heartbeat!

I wish I could find the Frenchy who thought that one up... Other than that, it is a great airplane.

 

[side stick-n]

Here are my 2 pennies....

I'm in love. I mean it. After a couple of days off, I start to get very home sick. I guess you can tell I like the bus. Compared to my last airplane, I guess it's a little better. I mean it's hard to get much better than a 15 year old Dash 8/100. Obviously, after flying around in props for 18 years, this is like I've died and gone to heaven. It's an awesome experience. I think one of the best features is the auto-trimming function and flight stability. It's neat to be in a 15 degree climbing turn, let go of the stick and watch it stay in that position. I think the worst thing is the lack of "feel" when landing. Maybe thats just a time thing but at least for now, it's tough to finesse it on. Of course, I hear JayDub does it all the time..... Maybe I'll get a few lessons from him on the side. Transition to stick and glass was no big deal for me. I think it helped not having anything to compare it to. No cross training issues, just everything from scratch.

 

[JayDub]

I think the worst thing is the lack of "feel" when landing. Maybe that’s just a time thing but at least for now, it's tough to finesse it on. Of course, I hear JayDub does it all the time...

Yeah, right! I am just glad we have good Dental insurance. Otherwise, it'd make replacing fillings expensive. Seriously though, you may think you just crashed from up front, but in the back most all landings feel much nicer than just about any other aircraft.

The worst thing about the 320? Easy...the dang incoming intercom message tone.

You are definitely onto something there. I am just glad our blue shirts don't show stains that well. I always jump out of skin every time that goes off. Especially when it's SELCAL half way to SJU!

The 321 (due to its additional weight and length) isn't nearly as pitch sensitive in turbulence as the 320.

Brings up one more item. If you are in the back galley or last couple of rows, turbulence can toss you around. It's a longer arm to the aft than up front. Really makes you feel every little bump and turn sometimes.

BTW Joint Ops,
The C-21 was EFIS? Man am I jealous! Next you'll tell me they opted for the comfortable seats too!


JayDub

 

[reepicheep]

The f/a who lives down the street calls it F.F.F. for "French Faux Fiftyseven". Having flown both types I feel this is the most appropriate description I've heard. The bean counters love it though.

 

[rasmith]

A320

Great airplane in most respects. Roomy up front, tray table is so handy. FMS makes it very easy to manage the flight- a little preparation goes a long way, like most aviation activities.

Aircraft is range limited for the US..seems perfect for Europe, imagine that. Limited to FL390; the ability to climb to 410 or 430 is sorely missed-it's a lot smoother up there, and generally easier to get direct routing as well. Fishtails quite a bit in the rear.

Could get used to flying JFK to San Juan-about 4.5 of flying, no real fuel issues, comfortable seat, and usually lovely weather. How sweet it is!

 

[Gumbydammit]

Sounds like the A320 is a little more comfortable than the 737NG...what does it cruise at...speed and altitude?

 

[Slug]

Loved it!

I loved Le'Bus in most respects that have already been mentioned. The thing that I found annoying (other than the F/A call warning) was the fact that the throttles didn't move with the autothrottles engaged. You would be coming down final and the engines are spooling up and back and the only way you can tell is the engine noise or watching the "guages". It would have been nice to see or feel the thrust levers move and be able to account for the pitch changes timely. Its a minor point though and I dug it for the 8 months I got to fly it.


Slug

Cruised mid to high 30's, speed around .80

 

[reepicheep]

Sounds like the A320 is a little more comfortable than the 737NG...what does it cruise at...speed and altitude?

Cockpit comfort is far superior in the 320 to the 737 series. Performance is another matter. On the transcon legs expect a 30-minute struggle up to 310 westbound and 330 eastward. 75's and 76's will be passing you overhead all day. "Normal" cruise is around .80 but the aircraft is so sensitive to turbulence that much of the time you are forced to slow to .76. I contrast this with the 757 which would plow right ahead comfortably in the same air with minor bumbs at .80.

Again, I characterize it as a bean-counters airplane, certainly not a pilot's airplane unless FS 2000 is your idea of flying. It is comfortable and quiet though - especially at .76!

And I fly for USAir, not Jet Blue. Hope I'm still allowed to chime-in with my thoughts.

 

[jointops]

reepicheep,

Half of jetBlue pilots for the last 6 months of training have been US Air furloughees. We're actually into the 13-14 year US Air seniority for trainees in MIA this month.

I'd never forget my roots or speak ill of the company that paid me well to do a job I loved. You're welcome to jumpseat on my plane anytime! That includes our F/A jumpseats too!

Happy landings

 

[reepicheep]

reepicheep,

Half of jetBlue pilots for the last 6 months of training have been US Air furloughees. We're actually into the 13-14 year US Air seniority for trainees in MIA this month.

Jointops, thanks for the encouragement. I'm also crossing my fingers for an interview....I'm in the 15-year group. A friend in my class has one scheduled for Oct. I hope he gets on - maybe he can help me out!

 

[Jeff G]

I like the A320. I'm not in love, though. It's comfortable, doesn't surprise you too badly, and you have to be asleep to miss a serious problem. But it's not a pilot's airplane, and you have to turn a lot of the automation off to exercise your hard-won handflying skills at all. Autopilot off, FD off, autothrust off, and suddenly you're (mostly) flying a plane again. Ever flown a plane where you could fly by the seat of your pants, and know just by feel exactly how to make the plane dance for you? Doesn't work here; this is an airplane flown by sight alone. A lot of the time, with all the magic on, it doesn't feel much like flying, and a lot more like "programming". It's hard to feel much of a sense of pride when your main contribution for a good flight was dialing in a slower Mach speed or remembering where to program a course offset. Yeah, we're supposed to be managers now, but still... Occasionally I have a half-mad wish for a malfunction that will put the airplane into direct law (dual RA failure anyone?). At least then I can trim the plane myself. But I digress.

I had a lot of glass time so transitioning into the Bus was relatively painless, almost like differences training in regards to the EFIS. The plane's systems are surprisingly conventional. Electrics, hydraulics, pneumatics all work pretty much the same as in other aircraft. The autoflight and flight control systems needed a lot of attention, since they are pretty complex. The side stick was a nonissue within a sim session or two. You just felt how much it needed and that was the end of it.

It sounds a lot like I'm dogging the airplane, and I didn't mean to. It's very well though out and optimized to a fare-thee-well for very efficient operation. It's quiet, economical, comfortable for crew and passengers, and does a good job of keeping its pilots out of trouble. If I'm a little uninspired by its handling qualities, I'd much rather take that than a plane that tries to kill me every day. 'Nuff whining from me.