AD FAA-2012-0802

We are revising an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to include a procedure intended to address the unsafe condition, an inspection of the firewall connector for signs of arcing if an integrated drive generator (IDG) (or generator (GEN)) was shut down in-flight automatically or using the AFM procedure, and corrective action if necessary; and provides an optional terminating action for certain AFM revision and inspections. This AD was prompted by the potential for an inadvertent error by flightcrew to use the IDG switch instead of the GEN switch when doing the AFM display unit failure procedure required by the existing AD. This AD retains the actions required by the existing AD and clarifies certain terminology. We are issuing this AD to prevent transient loss of certain systems, which could result in the reduced ability of the flightcrew to cope with adverse flight conditions.