Smoke from #2 engine of Airbus Twins while landing?

[Crunk415balla]

After going to SFO for several straight days of spotting, I have made an observation. Every United/Ted A319/320 that comes into SFO has a thin trail of smoke comming from the #2 engine on approach/landing, but not on takeoff. Other airlines Airbus's(NW/Mexicana/Frontier/HP specifically) haven't had this smoke trailing from the engine.

It really has me baffaled. I have never noticed this before, and am very confused as to why the smoke is only in the #2 engine and why it only occurs on United aircraft from what I have seen thus far.

Any ideas?

[ptbodale]

Well you aren't the only one confused. I talked to one of our Maintenance Managers about your question and he was perplexed too.

The only thing he could think of was a power setting. He wondered why this is only on the #2 engine as well. We had a look at some AC busses landing and we didn't see any "smoke" from the #2 on our aircraft.

[JordanD]

I've noticed the Ted Airbuses at IAD smoke some too. I don't remember if it was from both engines or just the number dos.

[Crism]

Older...needs oil change...I'm assuming it could be a couple of things

[Crunk415balla]

Eh, I would understand age and oil change issues if it was one plane. But the same specific engine doing this in an entire airline's fleet is preculiar.

Yesterday the planes were preforming a rare approach at SFO landing on the 1's, and I was up on the roof of a parking garage by the runway where they are no more than 30-35 feet overhead, and in that time I counted 17 United/Ted Airbus's, EACH ONE with the smoke comming from the number 2 engine, and 1 A319 has a slight trail comming from the #1 as well. I could see the inside of the engines pretty well from the low altitude, and I saw nothing odd inside of the engines. And, as always, the other airline's Airbus Twins didn't have any smoke comming from either engine.

I doubt you'll see Air Canada Airbuses with the smoke, Dale. 2 AC A319s, 1 US A320, and 1 Frontier A319 all came in while I was there, but I didn't see the trail comming from a single one of them.

[JordanD]

Some engine types just tend to smoke more though. Look at UA's 777's. The ones with Pratt & Whitneys smoke like crazy.

[Crunk415balla]

Some engine types just tend to smoke more though. Look at UA's 777's. The ones with Pratt & Whitneys smoke like crazy.

Ya, but I've noticed that on some other airlines as well.

[YYZPICS]

Ive noticed biz jets alot, wierd.

[RingwaySam]

Ive noticed biz jets alot, wierd.

Yeah, me too

[JordanD]

Yeah, me too

Sweeeeeeeet.

[RingwaySam]

Sounded like a 732 aswell

[Sam at MAN]

Smoke, B-52

[Electric-Jet]

Think that biz jet has alot of smoke, look at this photo.Whats with Gulfstreams.

[photoid=5689822]

[JordanD]

Think that biz jet has alot of smoke, look at this photo.Whats with Gulfstreams.

[photoid=5689822]

The newer ones don't smoke nearly as much, if at all. The smokey ones have Rolls Royce Spey engines, the same ones that were on the BAC-111 if I'm not mistaken.

[Electric-Jet]

Yeah, noting beats those older engines. There also the loudest things ever on T/O when your 40ft from the R/W .