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Usually, in the aviation world, numerous unique details often go unnoticed by travellers
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A particularly interesting fact involves Air India's Airbus A320 aircraft, some of which
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featured an unusual addition to their landing gear. This modification, seen on Air India Airbus A320, included extra wheels, a feature not
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immediately apparent to the casual observer. The Airbus A320, while not the heaviest aircraft, still exerts significant pressure on runways
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during landing, taxiing and take-off. This pressure can be problematic for weaker runway pavements
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In India, some airport pavements had lower classification numbers, indicating a reduced
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capacity to handle heavy loads. To address this, certain Air India A320s were equipped with additional wheels to distribute
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the aircraft's weight more evenly across the runway surface. This measure helped mitigate the stress on the pavement, ensuring safer operations
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Interestingly, similar pavement strength issues led to the closure of Sweden's Sava, Gothenburg
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City airport, to jetliners. The necessity for extra wheels on Air India's A320s diminished over time as airport infrastructure
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in India improved. Modernisation efforts resulted in stronger pavements capable of supporting heavier aircraft
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without the need for additional wheels. Consequently, newer A320 and A320neo aircraft in Air India's fleet do not feature this
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unique landing gear modification. Air India phased out its last double-boggied A320s in June 2019, as reported by Travel Update
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For most passengers, the presence of extra wheels likely went unnoticed, as it did not
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significantly alter the in-flight experience. Did you ever fly on an Air India Airbus A320 with extra wheels
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Let us know in the comments below
