US / a320 weight restriction?
 

US Folks,

I got left behind today on the USair PHL-LAS flight because the a320 was weight restricted and could only take 1 js in the cockpit instead of 2. The crew and gate agent were extremely nice, but they couldn't get around the restriction, and I'm grateful that they went the extra mile to try and get me on. Makes me think even more highly of you guys!

So my question is this. I always assumed airbuses could never be weight restricted, and I specifically target 2 js aircraft when I jumpseat for the extra "warm fuzzy." So now this totally changes my way of thinking. For future reference, in what scenarios are your a320's weight restricted? Thanks in advance!

They can be weight restricted. Depends on the performance numbers. I'll add that a PHL-LAS run = more gas/weight, so you had that working against you.

Any scenarios off the top of your head? For example, RJ's become landing weight restricted when the leg is really short and the wx is bad enough that theyre carrying extra alternate fuel.

However, I cannot for the life of me explain how an a320 gets weight restricted out of PHL, going on a 4+30 flight. It can't possibly be togw restricted at sea level with a 10,000ft+ rwy on a cold day, and it cant possibly be landing weight restricted because its burning enough fuel on a long leg. Thoughts?

Fuel contamination in Vegas
Apparently affecting all airlines

- lots of cancellations, each flight required to carry as much fuel in as possible, and any flight that can't carry enough in is in a planned fuel stop op outbound. Working around it as much as possible, but just another feather in a weird winter (now almost spring)

Ahhhh ok I see what I missed. My buddy just msged me its single engine missed capability in LAS. Good to know. Thanks guys!

Woah!:eek: fuel contamination?!

Hmm. I flew JB 320s BOS-LAS and JFK-LAS several times and our SE missed numbers were several thousand pounds greater than structural MLW. IAE engines though.

We may still have some of the older Airbus with the "small" engines on them.

I've been a Boeing guy since day 1 so I'm not 100% about if we still have those or not.

I think there are still a few in the system, according to my Airbus manuals. I think they're classified as A01 in the system, with the -A1 engines on them.

It could be that or just extreme tankering with the fuel contamination in Vegas.

It's not common to have to weigh restrict, but it does happen. Sorry you didn't make it on.

I was under the impression that both jump seats could always used and never weight restricted even if that meant bumping passengers. Does that only apply us pilots?