1843. Center of Gravity Control on Airbus Aircraft: Fuel Range and Loading Benefits

Paper

Abstract

The new generation of Airbus Industries wide-body Aircraft is equipped with a Center of Gravity Control System (CGCS). These aircraft can carry fuel in the tailplane in addition to the wing and fuselage tanks. The tail tank has a capacity of about five tons. Due to the extreme aft posiion of this tank the fuel creates a rear aircraft CG position on ground and in flight. The installation of an active CG control system by fuel transfer results in: – a fuel benefit: the aft CG position reduces the drag in flight a range benefit: the fuel capacity is increased, fuel consumption is decreased – a loading benefit: the possibility of fuel transfer results in more flexibility with regard to forward CG limit Following an earlier SAWE presentation of the Center of Gravity Control System (Paper no. 1795) this paper presents these advantages on the basis of the A310-300 which is in airline operation since December 1985. Further Airbus aircraft, derivatives as A300-600R and new members of the Airbus family as A330 and A340 with active Cg control are shortly described.