Airbus A319 CJ
Summary
| Category | Transport aircraft |
| Origin country | 🇫🇷 France |
| First flight | 25 August 1995 |
| Year of introduction | 1995 |
| Number produced | 1499 units |
| Average unit price | $80 million |
Description
The A319 CJ was designed to provide optimal comfort for the VIPs being transported. The interior of the aircraft included a bedroom for the VIP, a lounge-office, and a private lavatory at the front, as well as space for approximately forty people at the rear. The aircraft were equipped with the latest secure communication technologies. To increase their range, it was possible to add additional fuel tanks in the cargo hold, although this would reduce the baggage capacity.
The primary users of the A319 CJ were the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister during their official travels. Occasionally, a minister could also use such an aircraft for an official trip abroad. However, these comfortable aircraft had limitations in terms of capacity and range. For trips involving a large number of people, it was often necessary to use additional aircraft such as the Falcon 900. Furthermore, long journeys required refueling, sometimes with intermediate stops.
Following requests from President Nicolas Sarkozy, it was decided in 2009 to replace the two A319 CJ aircraft with a single Airbus A330. This aircraft was purchased second-hand from Air Caraïbes and was fully renovated and equipped to meet the specific needs of the Head of State. This decision was made more promptly after a serious incident in March 2009, when one of the A319 caught fire on the runway at Villacoublay just before takeoff. President Sarkozy and the ministers present were evacuated without harm to another aircraft.
Technical specifications
| Version: A319 CJ | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 2 pilots + 40 passengers max |
| Operational range | 11650 km (7239 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 828 km/h (514 mph) |
| Wing area | 122.6 m² (1319.7 sqft) |
| Wingspan | 34.1 m (111.9 ft) |
| Height | 11.8 m (38.7 ft) |
| Length | 33.8 m (111.0 ft) |
| Service ceiling | 1350 m (4429 ft) |
| Empty weight | 42300 kg (93255 lbs) |
| Powerplant | 2 × CFM56 5A |
Current operating countries
| Country | Units | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Hungary | 2 | |
|
Germany | 1 | |
|
Pakistan | 1 | |
Numbers in parentheses, e.g. '(+5)', indicate units ordered but not yet delivered.
Photo of A319 CJ
Credits: Rolf Wallner