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In the A320 family series FCOM under the special operations procedure chapter it is mentioned that we have to check the fuel x feed on ground before departing.

Any specific reason why we only check it before departing for ETOPS flights?

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  • The main reason to check the Fuel-X-FEED on the ground before the flight is to allow the pilots to use the total fuel quantity on both wings in case of a single-engine failure during flying in ETOPS. (Due to engine-out scenario you may not be able to feed one engine by both fuel tanks without the FUEL-X-FEED Valve)

  • in addition to this, the Fuel-X-FEED in the A320 MEL is a NO DISPATCH item by means you can't depart without and that reason tracks back to the EASA Requirments listed in AMC-20 AMENDMENT - 7 (APPENDIX 4 - FLIGHT PREPARATION AND IN-FLIGHT PROCEDURES):

    (11) Fuel system

    (i) The aeroplane fuel system should provide fuel pressure and flow to the engine(s) in accordance with CS 25.951 and 25.955 for any fuel pump power supply failure condition not shown to be extremely improbable.

    (ii) The fuel necessary to complete the ETOPS mission or during a diversion should be available to the operating engine(s) under any failure condition, other then fuel boost pump failures, not shown to be extremely improbable2 (e.g. crossfeed valve failures, automatic fuel management system failures).

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  • $\begingroup$ @Islan Almaghraby if that's the case shouldn't be checking it before every flight ? Do you have any information or official reference which explains the reason specifically for ETOPS? $\endgroup$
    – Jai
    Oct 7, 2019 at 12:06
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    $\begingroup$ @Jai - On a long overwater flight you will have a greater need for crossfeed capability if you lose an engine and still need to travel a long distance than if you are overland with multiple divert options. So it's not a bad idea to check every time, but I could understand not requiring it. P.S. I notice that you use the term "we" as if you work on or fly these aircraft. Wouldn’t it make sense to ask the people you work with rather than polling random people here? $\endgroup$
    – Michael Hall
    Oct 7, 2019 at 17:41
  • $\begingroup$ @Micheal Hall appreciate your input I didnt mean any offence. I am a professional pilot and I do fly the A320 for a living. Alot of the questions I post on this forum the answers aren't available on the internet. It does make sense to ask my airline especially my engineering department and I do ask them as and when time permits me a number of questions have been answered by them but alot still haven't as I cant always ask them due to circumstances at hand. $\endgroup$
    – Jai
    Oct 8, 2019 at 10:25
  • $\begingroup$ @Islam Elsayed I checked the document which you listed but couldn't find a definitive answer for it. $\endgroup$
    – Jai
    Sep 2, 2020 at 5:35
  • $\begingroup$ @Jai You may find it on page 14, paragraph 11. $\endgroup$
    – Islam Elsayed
    Oct 8, 2020 at 17:11

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