OT: Nice Airbus A320 cockpit movie

[Warrant]

Watch and enjoy.....

http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/1950..._werkplek.html

[TuFun]

That was cool, especially flying around Rio!

[jimjones]

Interesting how the pilots flying corrections on the stick are so frequent, quick and severe at times. Constantly in motion.

[Tako_Kichi]

Interesting how the pilots flying corrections on the stick are so frequent, quick and severe at times. Constantly in motion.

I think part of that is because the stick is not directly coupled to the flying surfaces as the aircraft is 'fly by wire'. The stick also uses pressure sensors to register input (like 'fly by wire' fighters) rather than pots or 'Hall Effect' sensors as fitted to the stick you probably use for flight sim. The pilot seems to be applying some amount of pressure in one direction and then returning the stick to the neutral position, then going the other way to return the flight surfaces to a neutral position.

One issue with 'fly by wire' sticks has come to light in the recent airliner crash into the South Atlantic. According to the crash report the sticks are not 'coupled' and work independently of each other with control being assigned by a switch. Therefore if one pilot puts the aircraft into a nose up stall position the other pilot cannot just grab the stick on his side and push it forward like the old coupled yoke system. He has to throw a switch first to give his stick flight control.

[Bjoern]

Interesting how the pilots flying corrections on the stick are so frequent, quick and severe at times. Constantly in motion.

The frequency, speed and partial severity are nothing unusual. Even the jocks in older airplanes did it.
See here shortly before touchdown.

[Phantom88]

Great Vid,Thx for sharing

[StormILM]

Great video and I suppose that is TAM Airlines operating out of Santos Dumont Airport(Rio de Janeiro) at the beginning making the left clearing turn avoiding Morro Cara de Cao and at the end of the video landing at Congonhas in Sao Paolo(both short runways for jet operations).

Got a bit of info on the Control Stick inputs. A few of my friends are active A320/319 Captains & FO's plus I have the real Bus manual on this laptop. The stick input repetitions are very typical in the Bus. During takeoff and landings and below 80 ft, the control system is in "Pure Control Law" meaning it is stick direct to the control surfaces. When the FBW system switches to "Protected Mode", meaning all inputs go from the stick into the FBW/FCS computer which interprets what the Pilot is trying to do and then sends the associated commands to the surfaces. In that Normal Flight Mode(Protected), the FCS establishes pitch, bank, and yaw limits and will also add power via the FADEC if the FCS interprets the plane is slow/stall danger in certain envelopes/attitudes. The plane will respond to normal pitch and bank inputs like any other plane. For example, on takeoff roll, up to 80kts the pilot holds in forward stick to maintain positive nosewheel contact but backs off to center stick at 80. At VR & V2, when the desired pitch angle for climb profile is met on the PFD, the pilot can left off back pressure centering the stick. The plane auto-trims itself via the FBW/FCS. The plane will maintain that pitch angle as long as it is within the climb/speed/performance profile programmed into the box(FMC). When making a turn, you simply push the stick over to the direction of planned turn and the plane will turn fully coordinated without touching the rudders. In cases of wind, turbulence, the Pilot may make a lot of inputs to dampen the wind/gust drifts and bumps in the air not unlike seen with yoke inputs in rough air. The FCS control law algorithms(more or less preset responses) coupled with sensor data pretty much send all the proper control surface commands/movements/turbulence dampening as the pilot intends but without a tendency for PIO or over-controlling. On final approach fully configured, the pilot assumes control disconnecting the AP and at that point, the plane is fully trimmed for the configuration/speed as well as crosswinds(if any) and goes back to direct control law at 80ft.

The one constant all my Bus Pilot friends told me was that the Airbus FBW/FCS took a good bit of getting used to having come over from Boeing's and MD-80's and such. They told me the feel is completely "sterile" but once you're used to the function and limitations, it's one of the easiest heavy planes to fly in the world. As far as the stick priority goes, if the button is pushes, the other stick(no matter which side) will stay isolated until the button is released. The sticks do not move together as a conventional yoke does. They are summed together meaning for example if both pilots make equal inputs the same direction, the response will be exactly double the intended control moments. If they move exactly opposite inputs, the plane won't move. The sticks are very sensitive as well. Also of note, if there is an full FCS failure or power failure, the backup RAT power will keep enough power available to run control system in direct control law. The pilots can shut off the FCS and go direct control law at any time. BTW, if you fly the plane out of parameters-ie landing too hard, overspeed to flaps or gear, etc, the ACARS will record it and transmit the data to Airbus who will forward it to your Airline! A Captain with a company one of my friends flies for landed his A319 too hard in Latin America one night which caused minor damage. The recommended action was grounding & inspection + repair(possibly unsafe for flight). The Captain chose instead to make the return trip not reporting the incident. The ACARS reported the severity of the landing & possible damage to the home office and on return he was promptly fired.

[Bjoern]

A Captain with a company one of my friends flies for landed his A319 too hard in Latin America one night which caused minor damage. The recommended action was grounding & inspection + repair(possibly unsafe for flight). The Captain chose instead to make the return trip not reporting the incident. The ACARS reported the severity of the landing & possible damage to the home office and on return he was promptly fired.

Ouch.
But then again, it's a $40,000,000 airplane with ~130 people onboard. It's best to be safe than sorry.