The A320 Walk-Around
by Eric Bradley & Marc Romero, 14 July 2015


Drawing: Eric Bradley [ccSA]

The purpose of the walk-around is to search for any conditions that could compromise the safety of the flight. It is important to perform this task correctly because the consequences of failure can be very serious.

Never under-estimate the importance of performing a full and adequate external inspection, no matter how pushed for time you are or how much pressure you're under.

Some incidents have occurred due to really obvious things that could have been spotted during the external inspection.

In fact, on occasions, the failure has been at multiple levels. One such incident, for example, occurred on May 24, 2013.

BA762 took off with open fan cowl doors (checkpoint 7-5 on the walkaround). Here is a full PDF report of the incident.

A detailed table of walk-around procedures is as follows:

STEP ITEM ACTION
1 = L. Fwd Fuselage Lights Condition, check working
AOA Probe Condition
Static Ports Condition, check clear
ASI Valve Condition
Avionics Door (L) Check closed
2 = Nose Pitot Probes Condition
TAT Probes Condition
Crew O2 Discharge Indicator Check for  green 
Radome & Latches Condition, latches closed
Static Ports Condition, check clear
Avionics Door (F) Check Closed
Ice Detection Probes Condition
Ground Elec Pwr Door Check closed
3 = Landing Gear Taxi Light Condition
Chocks Check in place
Wheels & Tires Check for wear & damage
Superstructure Condition
Hydraulics & Elec Condition
Wheel Well Condition, check clear
Shock Absorber Condition
Safety Pin Check Removed
4 = R. Fwd Fuselage AOA Probes Condition
TAT Probes Condition
Pitot Probes Condition
Static Ports Condition, check clear
Cargo Ldng OpAc Dr Check closed
Cargo OpAc Door Check closed
Lights Condition, check working
Avionics Doors Check closed
Av Vent Outlet Valve Condition
5 = R. Ctr Fuselage LP Ground Cnx Dr Check closed
Antennas Condition
Drain Mast Condition
Anti-Collision Light Condition, check working
Pack Air I/O Check clear
HP Ground Cnx Dr Check closed
Ground Hyd Cnx B Check closed
L/G Ground Acc Doors Check closed
Ground Hyd Cnx Y Check closed
6 = R. Ctr Wing Magnetic Fuel Levels Flush
Fuel Water Drain Valves Check for leaks
Refuel Panel Check closed
Landing Lights Condition, check working
Slats Condition
7 = R. Engine Eng Oil Axs Dr Check closed
MMCD Access Door Check closed
T-rev Cowl Door Check closed
Pressure Relief Doors Check closed
Fan Cowl Door Check closed
Axs Dr to T-Rev Latches Check closed
Drain Masts Condition, no leaks
Eng Inlet & Fan Blades Check
8 = R. Wing Leading Edge Refuel Coupling Door Check closed
Magnetic Fuel Levels Flush
Fuel Water Drain Valves Check no leaks
Slats Condition
9 = R. Wing Tip Fuel Vent Overpres Disc Check intact
Wing fence Condition
Magnetic Fuel Levels Flush
Fuel Water Drain Valves Check no leaks
Surge Tank Air Inlet Check clear
Slats Condition
Nav Lights Condition, check working
Antennas (top) Condition
10 = R. Wing Trailing Edge Control Surfaces Condition
Flaps & Fairings Condition
Static Dischargers Check
Stat Dischg Eliminators Check
11 = Rear Landing Gear Chocks Check removed
Wheels & Tires Check for wear & damage
Brakes & Brake Wear Ind Condition
Superstructure Condition
Hydraulics & Elec Condition
Downlock Springs Check
Safety Pin Check removed
12 = R. Aft Fuselage Refuel Elec Ctrl Panel Check closed
APU Fuel Drain Condition, no leaks
Ground Hyd Cnx G Check closed
Antennas Condition
Drain Mast Condition
Cargo Ldg OpAxs Dr Check closed
Cargo OpAxs Door Check closed
Cargo Door Check closed
Bluk Door Check closed
Waste Service Panel Check closed
Outflow Valve Condition
13 = Tail & APU Stabilizer & Elevator Condition
Fin & Rudder Condition
Static Dischargers Check
Lower Surface Check
Flight Rec Axs Dr Check closed
APU Access Door Check closed
APU Air Intake Condition
APU Exhaust Check clear
APU Nav Light Condition, check working
APU Fire Ext Overpres Disc Check in place, intact
14 = L Aft Fuselage Water Service Panel Check closed
15 = L. Wing Trailing Edge Control Surfaces Condition
Flaps & Fairings Condition
Static Dischargers Check
Stat Dischg Eliminators Check
16 = L. Wing Tip Fuel Vent Overpres Disc Check intact
Wing fence Condition
Magnetic Fuel Levels Flush
Fuel Water Drain Valves Check no leaks
Surge Tank Air Inlet Check clear
Slats Condition
Nav Lights Condition, check working
Antennas (top) Condition
17 = L. Wing Leading Edge Refuel Coupling Door Check closed
Magnetic Fuel Levels Flush
Fuel Water Drain Valves Check no leaks
Slats Condition
18 = L. Engine Eng Oil Axs Dr Check closed
MMCD Access Door Check closed
T-rev Cowl Door Check closed
Pressure Relief Doors Check closed
Fan Cowl Door Check closed
Axs Dr to T-Rev Latches Check closed
Drain Masts Condition, no leaks
Eng Inlet & Fan Blades Check