AIRCRAFT PROTECTIONS

Question 1

What are the Load Factor limitations?

Answer 1

+2.5G to -1.0G CLEAN.

+2.0G to 0G ALL OTHER CONFIGS.

Question 2

What are the pitch attitude protection limitations?

Answer 2

+30’ Nose Up in CONF 0-3.
+25’ Nose Up in CONF FULL.
-15’ Nose Down.

Question 3

What are the bank angle protection limits?

Answer 3

+33’ positive spiral static stability.
+67’ full lateral side stick protection.
+45’ if AOA protection is active.
+40’ if high speed protection is active.

If the bank angle exceeds 45’, the AP disconnects and FDs disappear. FDs return when the bank angle reduces below 40’.

Question 4

What is high speed protection?

Answer 4

The aircraft will automatically recover from a high speed upset. As speed increases above Vmo/Mmo, side stick nose down authority is reduced and a permanent nose up order is applied. The autopilot will disconnect as high speed protection becomes active. (Vmo + 6kts / Mmo + 0.01)

Question 5

What is high angle of attack protection?

Answer 5

In normal law, the aircraft is protected against the stall. When the AOA becomes greater than alpha Prot, the high AOA protection activates.

Without flight crew input, the F/CTL computers maintain the AOA equal to alpha Prot. The AOA can be further increased by flight crew input, up to a maximum value equal to alpha Max.

Question 6

What is ALPHA FLOOR PROTECTION?

Answer 6

It is an AUTOTHRUST PROTECTION NOT A FLIGHT CONTROL PROTECTION. Available liftoff to 100ft above landing. It’s is triggered by the FACS through the ATHR system when the AOA becomes excessive and command TOGA regardless of the position of the thrust levers. Pilots must ensure the speed is safe prior to disconnecting the ATHR returning the thrust levers to the CLB DETENT and re-engaging ATHR.

Question 7

How many protections do we have on the Airbus?

Answer 7

5 Protections:

High Angle of Attack Protection
Load Factor Limitation
Pitch Attitude Protection
Bank Angle Protection
High Speed Protection

Question 8

Tell me about protections and Alternate Law.

Answer 8

Under alternate law we can have alternate law with or without reduced protections. *The indication on ECAM will be ALTN LAW: PROT LOST in both cases.

Load factor limitation is always available. Only with reduced protection as opposed to in Normal Law, High speed protection is replaced with High speed stability and high angle of attack protection is replaced with low speed stability.

Question 9

Tell me about protections under Direct Law.

Answer 9

NO PROTECTIONS AVAILABLE under DIRECT LAW. However, aural overspeed and stall warning are still operative.