Originally Posted by
BAECAddict
I stand corrected!
Thinking about the last time I went in one of the G-BUSx A320s (with no wingtip fences and CFM-56 engines), it was in October 2010 on the way to Barcelona in the midst of a French ATC strike. I remember the captain commenting that we were fortunate to have one of these aircraft because it had some navigational aid that allowed us to follow a course some way out to sea that the standard BA A320s didn't have. Would love to know what that was...
It was not a navaid per se, rather a type of radio required to enter oceanic airspace. Some of, but not all, the SH Airbus have the HF radio, many do not. The BUSx airbus' , both-100 and -200 series aircraft,were ordered to a BCAL specification and, in many ways, were superior to the BA specified aircraft. One spec of topical interest was the water compressor which allowed you to get a cup of tea or wash your hands on the ground without the APU air.