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The pressurization system on the A320 normally operates

automatically to adjust the cabin altitude and rate of
change of altitude to ensure maximum passenger comfort
and safety.

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The pressurized areas are;

the cockpit
the avionics bay
the cabin
and the cargo compartments.

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The Pressurized Areas

Pack 1

Pack 2

The concept of the system is simple.

Air is supplied from the Air Conditioning Packs to the
pressurized areas.

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Outflow
Valve

The Pressurized Areas

Pack 1

Pack 2

An Outflow valve is used to regulate the amount of air

allowed to escape from the pressurized areas.

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Cabin Pressure Controllers

CPC 1

CPC 2

Electric
Motor

Electric
Motor

Pack 1

Pack 2

Automatic control of the outflow valve is provided by two

Cabin Pressure Controllers.
Each controller has an
electric motor to move the outflow valve.

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CPC 1

CPC 2

SYS 1

SYS 2

Pack 1

Pack 2

A controller/ motor combination is known as a system .

Only one system will operate at any one time with the
other system acting as backup.

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Manually Controlled
Motor

MAN

Pack 1

Pack 2

A third motor is installed for use in the event of both

automatic systems failing and requires a manual input to
open or close the outflow valve.

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Safety Valves

SYS 1

Pack 1

Pack 2

To avoid excessive cabin differential pressure safety

valves are installed.

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Cabin
Differential Pressure

SYS 1

Pack 1

Pack 2
Let us look at the operation of the outflow valve for an aircraft in
cruise and what happens to cabin differential pressure, cabin
altitude, and Cabin Vertical speed. We will start with Cabin
Differential Pressure.
If the outflow valve is closed, or only allowing a small amount of
air to escape, then the cabin differential pressure will increase.

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Cabin Altitude

SYS 1

Pack 1

Pack 2

Now lets look at what happens to Cabin Altitude .

If the outflow valve is closed, or only allowing a small
amount of air to escape, then the Cabin Altitude will
descend.

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Cabin
Vertical Speed

Cabin Altitude

SYS 1

Pack 1

Pack 2

We can also see what the cabin is doing by reference to

vertical speed. When the outflow valve closes the cabin
altitude will decrease with a Vertical Speed.

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Cabin
Differential Pressure

Cabin
Vertical Speed

Cabin Altitude

SYS 1

Pack 1

Pack 2

If the outflow valve is fully open, a lot of air is allowed to

escape, the cabin pressure will decrease, the cabin
altitude will climb with a Vertical Speed.

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SYS 1

Pack 1

Pack 2

The crew can monitor all cabin pressure functions on the

ECAM CAB PRESS Page.

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Lets look at the information, associated with the

pressurization system, that is presented on the CAB
PRESS page. The pack indication is displayed green
when the associated pack is on.

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The Outflow valve position can be monitored, and the

system controller in use is shown.

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There is a single indication for the safety valves.

We will look at how this indication changes in the
Abnormal operation module.

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The Cabin Differential Pressure, or Delta P, shows the

difference, in PSI, between the cabin pressure and
external pressure.
This differential pressure will be at zero on the ground
and increase as the aircraft climbs.

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The Cabin Vertical Speed shows the rate of change, in

Ft/Min, of cabin altitude.
For passenger comfort the pressurization system will aim
to keep this rate of change as small as possible.

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The Cabin Altitude is also shown.

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The Vent, Inlet and Extract indications are associated with

the Avionics Ventilation System and will be discussed in a
separate module.

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ECAM CRUISE Page

On the ECAM Cruise Page there are indications of;

Cabin Differential pressure
Cabin vertical speed
Cabin altitude

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ECAM DOOR/OXY Page

There is also an indication of cabin vertical speed on the

ECAM Door page. Note that this indication is only
displayed when the aircraft is airborne.

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On the overhead panel there is a CABIN PRESS panel

containing controls to operate the Pressurization system.
Under normal conditions no pilot action is required on this
panel during flight.

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The Pressurization MODE Select switch has two settings:

Automatic and Manual.

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The normal position for this switch is, lights out. In this
position the pressurization system is in Automatic mode.

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MAN

The use of Manual Mode and the Manual Vertical Speed

control will be discussed in the abnormal operation
module.

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The Landing Elevation selector normally remains in the

Auto position. Landing elevation, which is required by the
Pressurization system, is then provided by the FMGS
based upon elevation of the destination airport. If the
landing elevation is not available from the FMGS, then it
can be set manually using this selector. You will use this
selector in the abnormal operation modules.

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Module completed

PRESSURIZATION

The guarded Ditching switch is provided to close all

valves below the waterline so that the aircraft can be
sealed in the unlikely event of a ditching.

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NEXT

LIST OF SUBJECTS
SYSTEM CONCEPT
ECAM INDICATIONS
PRESSURIZATION CONTROL
PANEL

AUDIO

GLOSSARY

RETURN

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