** Updated April 7, 2020 **
Well, C-FDQQ is no longer the oldest in the fleet. The first Airbus A320-200 to join the Air Canada fleet took its final flight on April 6, 2020.
Air Canada just doesn’t seem to have respect for the elderly! C-FDQQ is their oldest Airbus A320-200 and it’s looking pretty rough with it’s mismatched engine casings and aging paint job. Quite possibly, this is on of eleven to be phased out in 2019. We photographed the A320 on May 20, 2018 while plane spotting at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ).
For full-size, high resolution versions for any of the photos in the image gallery, simply click on the individual pictures. See below for more detailed information on C-FDQQ, the Airbus A320-200 model in general and the airline.
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C-FDQQ
Airbus A320-200
Air Canada
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C-FDQQ Air Canada Airbus A320-200 Image Gallery
High resolution versions of this type of aircraft and much more are available at Dreamstime. Want to earn cash from your own photos? Why not sign up for free with Dreamstime and start submitting now: Become a paid photographer!
C-FDQQ
C-FDQQ performed its maiden flight on October 27, 1989 and was originally slated to be delivered to Ansett Australia as VH-HYI. However, that delivery fell through the Airbus A320-211 ended up with Air Canada on January 19, 1990. This is currently the oldest A320 in the Canadian airline’s fleet out of the 42 that are flying. The airliner is configured for a maximum total of 146 passengers with 14 seats in business class and 132 economy class seats.
A little about Ansett Australia: The airline was founded in 1936 as Ansett Airways and ceased operations in 2001. They were headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. At the time of their demise, the airline had a fleet of 138 aircraft flying to 88 destinations.
On September 15, 2012, C-FDQQ was flying from Toronto, Ontario to Vancouver, British Columbia. After taking off, ground crews detected leaked hydraulic fluid at the terminal where the Airbus A320-200 had been parked. The flight continued and the airliner landed safely at YVR without incident. A hydraulic leak was found at the hydraulic brake actuator.
Half a year later, on March 6, 2013, the A320 was flying from Toronto to Tampa, Florida. Over Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, crew received an indication that the left main landing gear doors were activated. The flight was diverted back to Toronto for a safe landing. The landing gear had, however, not extended without command during the flight. The cause was speculated to a be a faulty proximity sensor.
Moving ahead to September 29, 2016, C-FDQQ was flying from Los Angeles, California to Vancouver. At 36,000 feet, not far northeast of San Francisco, the cabin altitude had increased to 9,500 feet. After a descent was initiated, the crew were able to normalize cabin pressure and the emergency descent was leveled off at 24,000. The flight continued for a safe landing at YVR. As a result, the #1 pressure regulating valve and #1 temperature limitation thermostat were replaced.
Most recently, on August 1, 2017, the Airbus A320-200 was flying domestically from Edmonton, Alberta to Montreal, Quebec. Once again, during the flight the aircraft had issues with the yellow hydraulic system with a low quantity indication. The flight continued for a safe landing in Montreal. As a result, the park brake valve o-ring was replaced.
See more aircraft at our Air Canada Fleet Page.
Access all our featured aircraft at the Airplane Index Page.
Airbus A320-200
The Airbus A320 is the leader of the Airbus A320 family. The A321 is the extended version while the A319 and A318 are shrunken versions. The airplane is 38 metres or 123 feet in length with a wingspan of 36 metres or 118 feet. At the tail, the aircraft stands 12 metres or 39 feet in height. The flight range is 6,100 kilometres.
The first Airbus A320 was introduced in 1988 with Air France. Somewhere around 4,400 of the A320 have been built and around 7,500 aircraft from the A320 family have been put into service.
Air Canada
Air Canada was founded as Trans Canada Air Lines in 1937. The name was officially switched on January 1, 1965. There are over 170 aircraft in the main fleet (including Air Canada Jetz and Air Canada Cargo) with nearly 320 when subsidiaries are included. The largest in the fleet is the Boeing 777-300ER. The airline flies to over 220 destinations around the world (350 with subsidiaries included).
Headquartered at the Air Canada Centre on the grounds of Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) in Dorval, Quebec, the airline is a founding member of the Star Alliance. Other founding members include Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways and United Airlines. There are now 26 full member airlines worldwide.
Headquartered at the Air Canada Centre on the grounds of Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) in Dorval, Quebec, the airline is a founding member of the Star Alliance. Other founding members include Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways and United Airlines. There are now 26 full member airlines worldwide.
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Vancouver International Airport