Flight Simulator Spot: Fly the Airbus A320

A320 overview

The Airbus A320 family consists of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus. The family includes the A318, A319, A320 and A321, and the ACJ business jet. Final assembly of the family in Europe takes place in Toulouse, France, and Hamburg,

Germany. Since 2009, a plant in Tianjin in the People's Republic of China has also started producing aircraft for Chinese airlines. In June 2012, Airbus announced plans to begin building the 319, 320, and 321 variants in Mobile, Alabama.[4] The aircraft family can accommodate up to 220 passengers and has a range of 3,100 to 12,000 km (1,700 to 6,500 nmi), depending on model.

The first member of the A320 family the A320 was launched in March 1984, first flew on 22 February 1987, and was first delivered in 1988. The family was soon extended to include the A321 (first delivered

1994), the A319 (1996), and the A318 (2003). The A320 family pioneered the use of digital fly-by-wire flight control systems, as well as side-stick controls, in commercial aircraft. There has been a continuous improvement process since introduction.

On 1 December 2010, Airbus officially launched the new generation of the A320 family with the A320 neo "New Engine Option". The new generation offers a choice of the CFM International LEAP-X or Pratt & Whitney PW1000G, combined with airframe improvements and the addition of winglets, named Sharklets by Airbus. The aircraft will deliver fuel savings of up to 15%. Virgin America will be the launch customer for the aircraft in spring of 2016. As of 31 December 2011, a total of 1,196 A320neo family aircraft have been ordered by 21 airlines making it the fastest ever selling commercial aircraft.

As of December 2012, a total of 5,402 Airbus A320 family aircraft have been delivered, of which 5,234

are in service. In addition, another 3,629 airliners are on firm order. It ranked as the world's fastest-selling jet airliner family according to records from 2005 to 2007, and as the best-selling single-generation aircraft programme. The family's direct competitors are the Boeing 737, 717, 757 and the McDonnell Douglas MD-80.

Be aware of A320 Crashes:

On 26 June 1988 Air France Flight 296, an A320-111, crashed into the tops of trees beyond the runway on a demonstration flight at Mulhouse-Habsheim Airport, France. Three passengers were killed.
On 14 February 1990 Indian Airlines Flight 605, an A320-231, carrying 146 people, crashed on its final approach to the HAL Airport, Bangalore. 88 passengers and four crew members were killed.
On 20 January 1992 Air Inter Flight 148, an A320-111, crashed into a high ridge near Mount Sainte-Odile in the Vosges mountains while on final approach to Strasbourg at the end of a scheduled flight from Lyon. This accident resulted in the deaths of 87 of the aircraft's occupants (five crew members, 82 passengers).
On 14 September 1993 Lufthansa Flight 2904, an A320-211, coming from Frankfurt am Main with 70 people, crashed into an earth wall at the end of the runway at Warsaw. A fire started in the left wing area and penetrated into the passenger cabin. The copilot and a passenger died.
On 22 March 1998 Philippine Airlines Flight 137, an A320-214, crashed and overran the runway of Bacolod City Domestic Airport, RPVB, in Bacolod, Philippines, plowing through homes near it. None of the passengers or crew died, but many were injured and three on the ground were killed.
On 23 August 2000 Gulf Air Flight 072, an A320-212, crashed into the Persian Gulf on approach to Bahrain Airport. All 143 passengers and crew on board lost their lives.
On 1 July 2002 America West Airlines Flight 794, an A320-231, the pilot failed to maintain directional control during landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, causing the aircraft to veer off the side of the runway onto a dirt infield, and the nose gear strut collapsed. There were 10 reported injuries and no fatalities.[citation needed]
On 21 September 2005 JetBlue Airways Flight 292, an A320-232, executed an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) after the nose wheels jammed in an abnormal position. No one was injured.
On 3 May 2006 Armavia Flight 967, an A320-211, crashed into the Black Sea while attempting to conduct a go-around following its first approach to Sochi Airport, Russia. All 113 passengers and crew on board lost their lives. The accident was a Pilot error / Controlled flight into terrain accident.
On 17 July 2007 TAM Airlines Flight 3054, an A320-233, was not able to stop while landing at Congonhas International Airport in São Paulo, Brazil. As of 2009, the accident was caused by pilot error (by positioning the throttle out of the "idle" position) and by bad weather. All 187 passengers and crew died with 12 fatalities on the ground, totalling 199 people.
On 30 May 2008 TACA Flight 390, an A320-233, from San Salvador, overran the runway after landing at Toncontín International Airport in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, in bad weather conditions. There were five fatalities plus two on the ground.
On 27 November 2008 XL Airways Germany A320 Flight 888T, a check flight of an A320-232 stalled in a low speed test and control could not be regained, causing the aircraft to crash into the sea off the southern French coast. The aircraft was on lease by XL Airways and scheduled to be returned to Air New Zealand. All seven people aboard died.

US Airways Flight 1549, ditched in theHudson River in 2009 with all passengers surviving
On 15 January 2009 US Airways Flight 1549, an A320-214, en route from New York City LaGuardia Airport to Charlotte, North Carolina, ditched into the Hudson River several minutes after takeoff. All 150 passengers and five crew survived, with only five serious injuries. The accident was due to a collision with a flock of Canada geese, which disabled both engines. The entire airframe including the wings, has been preserved at the Carolinas Aviation Museum and is now on display.
On 29 August 2011 Gulf Air Flight GF 270, an A320, from Bahrain to Cochin carrying 143 people, skidded off the runway on landing.[140] The weather was poor with heavy rain and strong winds. The aircraft was badly damaged and seven passengers were injured. Some people were reported to have jumped from an emergency exit when the evacuation slide failed to deploy.
On 20 September 2012, Syrian Air Flight RB-501, an A320-200, collided in mid-air with a military helicopter. The A320 lost half its vertical stabilizer but landed safely; the helicopter crashed, killing three of its occupants.

Now, How to fly A320:

1- Program the FMS and flight plan with ILS approach