Airbus A318's steep-approach capability explained as fleet shrinks
The A318 was designed to let a roughly 100-seat airliner serve airports with unusual approach constraints, using a certified steep-approach system. Only four of the type remain in service.
The Airbus A318 was built to solve a narrow problem: flying a roughly 100-seat airliner into airports where ordinary passenger jets struggle with approach constraints. It is the smallest member of the Airbus A320 family, with the family's cockpit and fly-by-wire architecture in a shorter fuselage, plus strong short-field performance.
Its most distinctive capability was a steep-approach system certified by EASA for airports limited by obstacles and noise. Only four A318s remain flying today.
Sources
- simpleflying.comThe Airbus A318's Cleverest Feature Is Exactly Why Only 4 Remain Flying Today