How many air conditioning packs does the A320 have and what is their purpose?

• A. Two packs (Pack 1 and Pack 2) that condition and supply cabin/cockpit air, regulated by the PACK selectors.
• B. Three packs providing cabin and cargo air, controlled by the PACK selectors.
• C. A single pack with split-dedicated supply to cabin and cockpit.
• D. Two packs that cool only avionics equipment.

Answer: (A)

The A320 uses two air conditioning packs. These packs take bleed air from the engines (or the APU when needed) and run it through air cycle machines to cool and dehumidify the air, then deliver conditioned air to the cabin and cockpit through the environmental control system. The PACK selectors regulate how these packs operate, allowing you to switch them on or off and, in many cases, let the system manage operation automatically to maintain comfortable cabin conditions. Cargo hold air isn’t conditioned by a separate pack, and avionics cooling is handled by its own subsystem. So the best answer describes two packs that condition and supply cabin/cockpit air, controlled by the PACK selectors.