A320
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
Was getting vectored for ILS approach and had been slowed to 210 knots by ATC. Was descending to 5;000 feet and upon passing 7;000 feet I called for Flaps 1. At approximately 6;500 feet got a F/CTL Slat Locked-Wingtip Brk ECAM. We told ATC that we had an issue to resolve and asked for holding or vectors. They said that they would give us vectors and asked us to maintain 6;000 feet. We complied. We followed all ECAM/QRH standard procedures in preparing the aircraft for landing.The First Officer was the Pilot Flying and I worked on the slat issue; conferring with him as necessary. I declared an emergency with ATC at ZZZ; advised the flight attendants that we had declared the emergency and to prepare the cabin but it would be a normal landing. I spoke to the passengers and advised them that the landing would be normal however they might see some equipment standing by for precautionary purposes; by our request. I also sent off a quick message to Dispatch to inform them of our situation. I never had time to check their response. At this point our fuel was already down to 7;600 pounds in spite of the fact that I had added 1;500 pounds to our fuel load [before departure] because I was unhappy with Dispatch's fuel load which had us landing with 7;300 pounds. We stopped the rest of what we were doing and requested the approach. We made an uneventful ILS to a visual approach in good VFR weather. We taxied to the gate and left the flaps in their landing configuration. My only comments are that I feel that the QRH procedure for this problem should be simplified or made a little more user friendly. There are points that I think could be a little more clearly presented by a simple change in verbiage. Also; the fuel issue here is an excellent example of a continuing problem with regards to insufficient fuel loads; especially on longer transcontinental flights. I was extremely happy that I had added the fuel but actually wish that I had added more.
An A320 flight crew complied with all appropriate checklists; declared an emergency; and landed safely after encountering a malfunctioning flap/slat extension system.