A320 ATA 25 Technical Notes are brief and to-the-point information about the Airbus A320 Equipment and Furnishings, including its components and their functions. ATA Chapter 25 deals with aircraft equipment and furnishings, which includes systems related to passenger comfort, crew safety, and emergency equipment on board aircraft.

A320 EQUIPMENT/FURNISHINGS

The equipment and furnishings installed in Airbus A320 aircraft provide comfort to the passengers and crew. Equipment in cargo compartments is installed for handling and safety of the cargo. Emergency equipment is installed in aircraft for the safety of passengers and crew.

  • Equipment and furnishings – for the comfort of passengers and crew.
  • Emergency equipment – for the safety of passengers and crew.

Cockpit

  • Cockpit design and pushbuttons
  • Crew seats
    • CAPT and F/O seats – electrically or manually adjusted
    • Third Occupant seat – foldable
    • Fourth Occupant seat (optional) – foldable
  • Cockpit additional electrical supply
  • Cockpit Equipment Racks – Rear Panel 120VU
  • Sun visors
  • Foot rest and sliding table assembly
  • Cockpit floor covering – Carpet
  • Cockpit Emergency Equipments

Cabin

  • Cabin is divided into utility areas and seating areas.
  • Passenger/crew doors and emergency exits are also included in the cabin area.
  • Seating area – Equipment and furnishings which are installed in the passenger seating area are:
    • Passenger seats
    • Cabin attendant seats
      • Wall mounted
      • Swivel seat
      • Free standing – can be mounted on seat rails.
    • Overhead stowage compartments
    • Passenger Service Information Units (PSIU) – PSU + PIU
    • Textile floor coverings – Carpet
  • Utility area – The equipment and furnishings which are installed in the utility areas are:
    • Cabin attendant seats
    • Dividers, Curtains, and Partitions
    • Ancillary equipment has different stowage units.
    • Non-textile floor coverings – Mat
    • Plastic covers are installed on the seat tracks.
    • Vacuum cleaner sockets give electrical power to clean the cabin interior.
    • Galleys – 2 wet galleys in most a/c.
      • Dry Galleys
      • Wet Galleys
      • Number and position of the galleys vary with the cabin configuration and the aircraft utilization.
    • Lavatories – 3

Cargo

  • FWD, AFT, and BULK.
  • A net divides the aft hold into two cargo compartments – AFT and BULK.
  • Cargo nets and straps which keep the bulk cargo in place.
  • Rapid Decompression Panels
  • Drainage system

Accessory Compartments

  • Avionics Compartments
    • FWD avionics compartment
      • Weather Radar Shelf 109VU
      • FWD Electronics Rack 90VU
    • Lateral avionics compartment
      • RH Lateral avionics compartment
        • Ann Lt Test Unit 70VU
        • Relay Box 103VU
        • Contactor Box 107VU
        • Two batteries, 2 transformer rectifiers, 1 static inverter, and 2 BCL.
      • LH Lateral avionics compartment
        • AC/DC Emergency Power Center 106VU
        • + associated generator control unit, transformer rectifier and transformer.
    • AFT avionics compartment
      • Aft Electronics Rack 80VU
  • Landing Gear Wells
    • Nose L/G Well
    • Main L/G Well
  • Equipment Compartments
    • AFT of the bulk cargo compartment
      • A catwalk (working platform) –  for maintenance and access to the equipment rack.
      • Outflow valve
      • System service lines for the air conditioning, lavatory, galley ventilation, and wastewater.
      • Fuel lines for APU.
    • Horizontal and vertical stabilizer attachment area
      • attachments for the horizontal and vertical stabilizer
      • components for the flight control trim system
      • Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and the underwater locator beacon (attached to the DFDR)
      • Cockpit voice recorder (CVR)
      • A catwalk (working platform) – for maintenance access
    • Tail-cone APU air-intake area
      • APU system components

Cockpit Design and Pushbuttons

  • System controls on the overhead panel make extensive use of pushbuttons, directly installed in the system synoptic.
  • Whenever possible, pushbuttons used for corrective actions, have integrated status and failure indications.
  • Pushbuttons Lights (color coding) –
    • Warning > RED – A failure requiring immediate action.
    • Caution > Amber – A failure but does not call for immediate action.
    • Indications >
      • GREEN – normal system operation.
      • BLUE – normal operation of a system used temporarily.
      • WHITE –
        • abnormal pushbutton position; 
        • test result or maintenance information.
  • Pushbuttons Positions (basic function) –
    • Pressed In – ON, AUTO, OVRD, OPEN
    • Released Out – OFF, MAN, ALTN, SHUT
    • Certain pushbutton lights have two dots, indicating that the corresponding part of the pushbutton is not used.
    • Certain pushbuttons do not remain pressed in. These are referred to as “Momentary Action” pushbuttons.
  • Cockpit Panels
    • MAIN INSTRUMENT PANEL
    • PEDESTAL
    • OVERHEAD PANEL
    • REAR PANEL (Cockpit Equipment Racks)
  • CB Panels in cockpit located on –
    • OVERHEAD PANEL (20VU)
      • 49VU – CB Panel
    • REAR PANEL (120VU)
      • 121VU – CB Panel
      • 122VU – CB Panel
      • 123VU – CB Panel
      • 124VU – CB Panel
      • 125VU – CB Panel

Linings and Furnishings

  • Linings are installed to give a cover to these parts:
    • Fuselage structure
    • Thermal acoustic insulation
    • Components of the electrical system
    • Components of the air conditioning and ventilation system.
  • Cabin linings include – Ceiling panels, Sidewall panels, & Door linings.
  • Cockpit linings also provide cockpit decoration.
  • Various furnishings are fitted in the cockpit and cabin for the comfort, convenience and safety of the passengers and crew.

Thermal and Acoustic Insulation

The thermal and acoustic insulation does the following:

  • Minimizes the loss of heat from the fuselage,
  • Stops the formation of condensation,
  • Reduces the noise level in the fuselage.

Dividers, Curtains, and Partitions

  • Dividers are installed to divide the utility areas and the passenger seating areas in the cabin.
  • Curtains divide the utility areas from the passenger seating area.
  • Partitions can be installed in the cabin. Special fittings attach the partitions to the seat tracks of the cabin and on top to the overhead stowage compartment or the ceiling.

Cockpit Additional Electrical Supply

  • 115VAC/60Hz power to the CAPTAIN and F/O outlets through the static inverter.
  • Static inverter (3NA) converts 28VDC input power to 115VAC/60Hz output power.
  • This static inverter is separate – from the aircraft static inverter. Don’t be confused.

Passenger Service Information Units (PSIU)

  • PSIUs are installed to give service and information to the passengers.
  • Each PSIU has two primary units:
    • Passenger Service Unit (PSU), installed above each seat row.
      • Attendant call panel
      • Reading light panel
      • Fresh air outlet panel
      • Emergency oxygen mask container
    • Passenger Information Unit (PIU), installed above each second seat row.
      • Loudspeaker,
      • Lighted sign FASTEN SEAT BELT,
      • Lighted sign NO SMOKING.

Lavatory Interior Equipment

The lavatory has as standard:

  • A toilet shroud – A decorative shroud is installed over the toilet unit and includes the toilet seat and the seat cover.
  • A mirror
  • A washbasin cabinet
    • two toilet paper roll holders
    • a hot/cold water faucet
    • a waste chute with a spring loaded flap
  • A liquid soap dispenser
  • An auxiliary light – The light is on all the time the aircraft is supplied with electrical power.
  • A light unit – controlled by the lavatory door-lock microswitch.
  • A handgrip
  • A coat hook
  • Two ashtrays – internal and external
  • A service cabinet
    • an individual air outlet
    • a loudspeaker (passenger address system)
    • a dispenser for towels, sickbags, etc.
    • a razor socket
    • a lighted sign RETURN TO SEAT and/or NO SMOKING
    • a call button
  • Baby Nursing Table – attached to lavatory wall.  -(optional)
  • Lavatory Doors – two configuration
    • Single Blade Door
    • Bi-folding Door

Rapid Decompression Panels

  • Rapid decompression panels (blow-in/blow-out) are installed in fwd, aft, bulk cargo.
  • They prevent damage to the aircraft structure in case of sudden pressure difference.
  • They prevent a pressure difference between different areas in the aircraft – cockpit/cabin, or cabin/cargo compartment.
  • The reset of the rapid decompression panel is done from the inside of the cargo compartment.

Drainage system

  • The rain water, condensation and spilt liquids that may have collected in the cargo compartment, flow out through drain valves.
  • The drain valves are installed in the fuselage structure near to the lowest points.
  • Drain valves – open/close at preset value to prevent loss of cabin pressure.
  • Open normally after landing – to drain away any collected water.
  • Drain valves open under spring tension.

Emergency Equipment List

  • Portable fire extinguishers – Three different types of portable fire extinguishers. Each type is filled with a different agent.
    • Halon agent type
    • 2-BTP (bromo trifluoropropene) agent type
    • Liquid (water) agent type
  • Portable oxygen-devices for flight crew
    • Protective-Breathing Equipment (PBE) in cockpit – Cockpit PBE (Smoke hoods)
    • Provides protection to the eyes and respiratory system from smoke and dangerous gases for crew members.
    • The breathing hood supplies air during a minimum of 15 minutes.
  • Portable oxygen-devices for cabin attendants
    • HP oxygen cylinders with continuous-flow masks – supply first-aid oxygen to the passengers. If necessary, they can also supply oxygen to the cabin attendants.
    • Protective-Breathing Equipment (PBE) in cabin – Cabin PBE (Smoke hoods).
    • PBE supplies oxygen to the cabin attendants if there is a fire or an emission of smoke and/or poisonous gas. It permits them to move freely to extinguish the fire.
    • PBE gives the cabin attendants protection from smoke and dangerous gases.
    • Demonstration oxygen masks – To show the passengers how to use the emergency oxygen.
    • Manual release tools.
  • Escape facilities for Cockpit
    • Escape ropes > sliding windows
  • Escape facilities for Cabin
    • Doors – Escape Slide or Slide Rafts (depends on configuration)
    • Emergency Exit – Escape Slide
  • Evacuation signaling equipment
    • EVAC CMD buttons in cockpit & cabin
  • First aid equipment
    • First Aid Kit (FAK) – to give aid to passengers or crew members who become ill or have light injury.
    • Medical Kit (MK) – for the use of a doctor, if on board. (Doctors Kit).
    • Defibrillator – used to give controlled shock therapy to persons suffering from cardiac arrest. (usually not installed in many a/c).
    • Universal Precaution Kit (UPK) – To remove unwanted materials from the cabin, this decreases the risk of contamination.
  • Pillows, blankets, and thermal blankets are kept at different locations/stowage compartments, near to an exit (utility area) to be given to the passengers who feel cold when the temperature in the cabin is low. (Low-cost carriers don’t provide this).
  • An air-sickness bag is also kept in the seat pocket.
  • Miscellaneous emergency equipment
    • Megaphone – used to amplify voice communication in an emergency.
    • Flashlight – for use by crew members. Automatic ON/OFF switch.
    • Crash axe – To cut through light structures, panels and windows to get access or exit in an emergency. (as per AMM – cockpit & cabin). DGCA – only 1 in cockpit.
    • Protective Gloves – for use if a fire occurs and to handle overheated equipment.
    • Safety On Board Card – in the rear pocket of each passenger seat.
    • Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) – ELT is kept in a stowage compartment. It has a rectangular shaped housing made of molded plastic, which is YELLOW. This ELT is Survival ELT (portable). (different from a/c fixed ELT).
    • ELT System – ELT is installed on the aircraft structure near the tail. ELT has an orange-colored housing, which contains the battery pack. It has an ARMED/OFF/ON toggle switch. The antenna is installed on the upper external fuselage
    • Underwater Locator Beacon (ULB) – underwater locator beacon is resistant to very bad environmental conditions, high-G impact shock and deep sea pressure up to a depth of 20000 ft.
  • Floatation and survival equipment
    • Slide Raft – if installed
      • Slide raft may be installed in place of the escape side on doors. (depends on configuration).
      • The slide rafts give flotation aid for passengers and crew members during extended over-water operation.
      • Slide raft has a special move function that permits quick release from a damaged door, for subsequent inflation at a different door.
      • The overload capacity for slide rafts is 165 persons.
      • For customers with a seat layout capacity of more than 165 persons, supplemental life rafts are installed in the cabin.
      • A survival kit is supplied for each slide raft and is kept in a container. The containers are kept in stowage compartments in the cabin, because there is not sufficient space on the FWD/AFT passenger/crew doors.
      • The survival kit for the supplemental life raft is kept in the supplemental life raft pack.
      • Installation and location of the supplementary life rafts are in accordance with the customer’s requirements (operator).
    • Life Vest – The life vests are kept below the passenger seats, in the cabin attendant’s seats and on the rear of each cockpit seat.
    • Life Lines – assist passengers evacuating the aircraft to remain on the wings after ditching. The life lines are installed in the hat racks adjacent the emergency exits left and right. Life line installation points are yellow in color for easy identification.
  • Supplementary medical equipment
    • Supplementary medical equipment includes – Medical outlets, static frequency inverters, control panel.
    • Used to give aid to passengers or crew members if they are ill or become ill during flight.
    • Medical outlets – near to the stretcher location. They supply electrical power to medical equipment.
    • Static frequency inverter – One or more are installed above the ceiling panels to supply the correct frequency/voltage to the medical outlets.
    • Usually not installed in many a/c.

NOTE: Non-functional life vests – to give visual instructions to passengers. Marked – DEMO

AviationHunt Team

Our team at AviationHunt is a group of aviation experts and enthusiasts. We aim to provide aviation insights, technical notes, best aircraft maintenance practices, and aviation safety tips.

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