Linebacker35

All they had to do was push the little red button on the Joy stick to deactivate the autopilot. Like how hard is that. Than they could have done whatever they wanted with the plane.
I dont know where you guys keep getting this idea the pilots have absolutly no control over an airbus. When the A320 is not in auto pilot, it flies like a normal plane!! The problems only rise when something happens and the pilots keep trying to correct the problem with the computer, when all they have to do is take it off autopilot, PROBLEM SOLVED.
Not in auto pilot=Pilot has full control
In autopilot= Computer has control of the plane, Pilots in control of computer, problem arises pilot may deactivate autopilot

Short Bus Drive

The aircraft was not at 150'. The pilots thought they were at 100', but a problem with the baro settings falsely led to that. They were at more like 30'.(Airbus sent out an OEB-like an AD- to AirFrance about this, but it never made it to the pilots) OEB= Operational Engineering Bulletin

Also, there was an OEB sent out about the CFM engines. A problem of engines not accelerating normally at low altitudes. The pilots also did not receive this. When the engines would not "spool up" as expected, the pilot thought there was a "short circuit" some where in the system, so he pulled the power back, then advanced them again. Resulting in an even slower respose. That's why in the video you can hear the engines spool up just as the aircraft was hitting the trees. Too late.
This too has been fixed.
So the computer did not "lock" in the landing mode.

fireman0174

Never flown an Airbus, but it's my undersatnding that Airbus limits flight parameters. An example I have heard (can't verify as I'm not Airbus qualified), is that you cannot roll an Airbus - "logic" or whatever prvents it.

If that's true, then the airplane's computer is really the one with the final authority. Autopilot or not.

Correct me if I'm wrong - but you'll have to stand in line behind my wife.

Linebacker35

You are right, the airbus does have those parameters that limit certain manuveurs. The computer does have control over that, the pilot cant do anything about that. (which i think are programed around where those manuevers would cause structural damage, im not positive though)
The A320's computer wont take the pilot out of the equation though, it does whatever the pilot programs it to do(minus the perameter limits) and if the pilot wants he can just take over him self. I was just saying the idea of the computer overridding the pilot and start flying however it wants is not true.

NE_Pilot

Will the computer override the pilot if he exceedes the pre-programmed limits???

Also, I heard somewhere that you can't disconnect the auto-throttle, on one of the Airbus's, not sure if that is true or not.

Short Bus Drive

What pre-programmed limits? If you are talking about roll, pitch, Angle of Attack, yes. But it's not an overide. It just won't let you exceed certain parameters, so you don't exceed structural limits, or stall. (To a point in NORMAL LAW)
Except in a case of extreme upset, then the plane will "let" you "fly" it to recover.(Normal Law is no longer applicable).
Gets kinda techincall, and confusing.

As far as "Auto Thrust", on the 320 series, you CAN disconnect them. Just make sure you pull the Thrust levers back to match your TLA indicators before you do!!!

sgrd0q

Scary stuff! By the way what would prevent the engines from accelerating normally at low altitude? Could this have been avoided by disconnecting the autopilot?

NE_Pilot

Ok, thanks for clearing that stuff up for me.

nw320driver

Sorry, but you are wrong Linebacker, As a Minibus Driver (319/320), one of the first things you learn is that when you disconnect the autopilot, you are still controlling the airplane through its many computers (ELACs, FCDCs, FCUs & SECs) via the sidestick controller. It has over 20 computers controlling the airplane at all times. Thats is what fly by wire is all about, no manual back up, just more computers.

I have flown both Boeings and Airbus. I like the B757-200 the best, because you can still turn everything off and fly the plane. That is not so with the Airbus. Many years ago, we had a pilot try to reset the flight control computers inflight, it did not work out well and a flight attendent was hurt (tossed around the cabin) during the reset. To make a long story short he no longer works in the industry.

My personal view is that Boeings are built to flown by pilots that use computers to make the workload less and the Airbus is built to managed by a computer operator who is also a pilot. Just my thoughts.

I am willing to fly both, but it all about pay rates now......

Linebacker35

I know that all the controls still go through the computer at all times. What I meant by computers controlling it was the plane being flown under autopilot.