Date: 201208
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Aircraft: A319
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Approach
Airspace: Class C ZZZ
ATC / advisory: TRACON ZZZ
Aircraft component: Trailing Edge Flap
Component problem: Failed
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Second reporter function: Pilot Flying; First Officer
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Detector: Automation Aircraft Other Automation; Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Maintenance Action; General Declared Emergency
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: First Officer was flying and I was pilot not flying. When we put the flaps to 2 on approach; got the F/CTL Flaps fault/Locked ECAM. We got vectors off the approach. Approach asked if we wanted to declare an emergency; and I told him not yet. I wanted to wait and see if we could get the flaps out and land. We accomplished the ECAM; recycling the flaps (a couple of times); still no trailing edge flaps. Leading edge was working okay. Sent Dispatch a 'call me' message and they responded with a frequency. Could not make any contact on the frequency given; not sure if it doesn't work down low or what. First Officer knew the local frequency. Made contact with the Dispatcher and Maintenance. An emergency was declared; the decision was made to divert to [nearby airport] due to the increased landing distance; and we vectored around [the area] running the checklist; calculating landing distances; and reviewing approach profiles. (Really came in nice to be so familiar with the abnormal configuration landing charts from the recent Proficiency Checks.) We were landing with a little over 6;000 LBS of fuel in [original destination]; so we had a few minutes of fuel before we had to get it on the ground. I had added 1;000 LBS of fuel before [departure]; or the fuel would have been more of an issue. I think we shut down with about 4;000 LBS; and that was getting everything done as fast as we could; and no go-around. After conferring with Dispatch and Maintenance; we finished the checklist; reviewed the abnormal flap/slat landing profile. The approach/landing was uneventful; and [we] taxied clear of the runway; [were] met by the fire/rescue team; and then taxied to the gate. Of course; flaps started working as soon as Maintenance tried them at the gate.


Second narrative: ATC was holding us in an area often used by the local General Aviation (GA) flight schools as a practice area. While this was out of the way of the commercial traffic; it was right in the middle of numerous small airplanes. During the course of my being vectored by ATC; we had one emergency vector by ATC to avoid an aircraft; as well as 2 other TCAS Advisories; one of which was directly below us and was impossible to see outside and difficult to discern on TCAS. At one point I flew between and within 3 miles and 500 FT of 2 GA VFR aircraft; one at my 11 o'clock and one at my 1 o'clock. At any given time I had at least 3-4 aircraft within 7 miles and 1;000 FT of our position. This added stress was a huge distraction for me. As I was flying the airplane; responding to vectors; scanning for traffic; and responding to the TCAS; it limited my ability to keep in the loop with the Captain and kind of listen in on what was being said.Around this time ATC said they were going to declare an emergency for us. I had been waiting to do that; as the aircraft was well under control and I was hopeful that we might be able to resolve our situation. Once it was determined that we were going to be stuck with these flaps; I was going to declare an emergency but ATC beat me to it. Once our checklists were complete and ATC vectored us away from the traffic and towards our eventual approach at an airport with longer runways; I was able to resynchronize with the Captain and get caught up with the game plan. Once the abnormal flap/slat checklists and ECAM items were complete and all performance calculations done; the Captain assumed flying duties and I reverted to the pilot not flying.


Synopsis: A319 flight crew reported loss of trailing edge flaps on approach. The ran the procedure with no help; declared an emergency; and diverted to a nearby airport that featured longer runways.