FLIGHTCONTROLS Flashcards
Unlike a conventional aircraft, what are you commanding in roll and pitch with the side stick?
Roll rate in bank
G load in Pitch (Load factor demand)
How can you disconnect the autopilot?
By using the A/P disconnect button or by applying enough force to the side stick
What actions that are done by the autopilot, is not fed back or felt through the rudder pedals?
- Turn co-ordination
- Automatic Rudder trim
- Yaw damping
What actions are felt through the rudder pedals?
Manual trim inputs
How many spoilers does the A320 have and what are their functions?
10 in total, 5 per wing
They are used for: Speed brakes, Roll Spoilers and Ground Spoilers
What spoilers are used as Speed Brakes?
Spoilers 2,3,4
What spoilers are used as Roll Spoilers
Spoilers 2,3,4,5
What spoilers are used as Ground Spoilers?
All 5 per wing are used as Ground Spoilers
What does an Amber SPEED BRAKE message mean?
Engine is above idle
How do you arm the Ground Spoilers?
By pulling up the speed brake lever until you see the GND SPLRS ARMED message and you can see the white band around the base of the lever
When will the Ground Spoilers deploy during an RTO?
When armed: Above 72 kts + engines at idle
Not armed: Above 72 kts + reverse thrust engaged
How does the flaps/slats move with the different settings?
Pos 1: Slats(18) and Flaps(10) move when on the ground.
Pos 2: Slats (22)and Flaps(15) move
Pos 3: Flaps(20) move
FULL: Slats(27) and Flaps(35) move
After speed brakes are auto retracted due to use of TOGA power, how can you regain control over them again?
- Reduce power
- Lever to retract, then wait 10 seconds
When will auto spoilers deploy on landing?
Armed spoilers: Both main wheels on the ground + idle power
Not armed: Both main wheels on the ground + reverse thrust selected
When will partial spoilers deploy and why?
When one gear is compressed spoilers will partially deploy to reduce lift and get the other wheel on the ground. Then full spoilers will deploy
When will spoilers auto retract on landing?
Thrust above idle or spoilers are disarmed
How many flight computers does the A320 have?
7 in total
2 ELAC
3 SEC
2 FAC
What does the ELACs control?
- Elevator
- Ailerons
- THS
What does the SECs control?
- Spoilers
- Elevator (standby)
- THS (standby)
What does the FACs control?
The rudder
In the event of a complete electrical failure, what surfaces have a mechanical backup?
- Rudder
- THS
How are the Slats/Flaps controlled?
By 2 SFCC (slat flap control computers)
Each SFCC has two channels
What happens to the ailerons max deflection with Flaps Down?
Max deflection is reduced
During pre-flight, the slat/flap surfaces are not in the commanded position. What do you do?
Don’t move the lever, contact maintenance
In NORMAL LAW, how is sidestick control different on the ground?
Control surfaces react proportionally to sidestick movement, just like a conventional aircraft
When is Ground Mode changed to Flight Mode for the flight controls?
During 10 seconds after take-off
When will the flaps automatically retract?
At 210 kts to prevent overspeed that occurs at 215 kts. Slats will not retract
What are you requesting when moving the sidestick to the neutral position?
1 G load. Basically to keep the new trajectory demanded
When does the THS engage after a pitch command is given?
When you release the sidestick the THS moves the elevator to center the elevators in relation to the THS
What are maximum elevator deflection?
+30 UP/-17 DN
What are the load factor protection limit?
Clean: +2,5g to -1.0g
Dirty: +2,0 to 0,0g
What are the attitude protection limits?
+30 deg nose up and -15 deg nose down
What is the high speed protection limit and what happens there?
The green “=” is where protection is activated. Vmo+6 kts
Auto pilot disengages
Pitch up command is given by the flight computers.
Max bank angle is 45 deg
If stick is neutralized, wings are rolled level
What protection has the highest priority in NORMAL LAW?
AOA protection
What is Vls?
Lowest speed that the FD:s will allow with A/T engaged
What is Va prot and what happens when it’s triggered?
Lowest speed with no A/T
Stick commands AOA instead of load factor
Auto trim stops
Nose up trim inhibited
A/P disengages
Bank angel max 45 deg
Speed brakes auto retract
What is Va max and what happens when it’s triggered?
If pilot overrides Va prot, speed can reduce to Va max. Computers will keep Va max regardless of if stick input is fully aft
If pilot releases stick at Va max, speed will return to Va prot
How do you know that the aircraft is in NORMAL LAW?
You can see the little green tick marks for bank angle and pitch and overspeed
What happens to pitch control at Va prot?
Changes from load factor command to AOA command
Can you force the plane to Alpha floor with use of side stick aft movement?
Yes, by holding it aft
What is Alpha floor?
When Va max is reached, Alpha floor kicks in. A/T comes alive and engine goes into TO/GA
When encountering turbulence during a turn, will autoflight return to the commanded bank angle?
No, cause you are not controlling bank angle, you are controlling roll rate. Therefore you must counter any roll change when external factors changes your trajectory
What is the max roll rate in NORMAL LAW?
15 deg/sec
Up to what bank angle will the system hold the roll attitude, if side stick is released in NORMAL LAW?
Up to 33 degrees AOB
What is the max angle of bank?
67 degrees
Beyond what roll limit is back pressure required?
Beyond 33 degrees AOB
What happens if sidestick is released between 33-67 degrees AOB?
Aircraft returns to 33 degrees AOB
What computers are involved with turn co-ordination?
ELAC and FAC
What flight control surfaces have cable driven back-up?
Rudder and Elevator/THS
When is the landing memo displayed on the E/WD panel?
From 2000 ft AGL
When is FLARE MODE activated?
At 50 ft AGL
What happens in FLARE MODE at 30 ft?
A slight forward pressure is introduced to 2 deg nose down over a period of 8 seconds so the pilot has to put in back pressure and flare
What are the protections in NORMAL LAW?
- Load factor
- Attitude
- AOA
- High speed
- Bank Angle
What is the only protection in ALTERNATE LAW?
Load factor protection
AOA and HIgh speed protection can be replaced by speed stabilities
How is speed stability (ALT LAW) different then Speed Protection?
Speed stability can be overridden where as protection can’t
Is Alpha floor protection available in ALTERNATE LAW?
No
How is sidestick inputs different in ALTERNATE LAW?
Pitch is the same load factor demand but Roll is now changed to direct control like a conventional aircraft.
What is the roll rate in ALTERNATE LAW?
30 deg/sec. It doubles from NORMAL LAW
How do you know the aircraft is in ALTERNATE LAW?
The green tick marks are replaced by amber tick marks
What happens to max rudder deflection when entering into ALTERNATE LAW?
They maintain last position before failure. When slats extends, max rudder deflection is available
When would DIRECT LAW be active?
In ALTERNATE LAW with gear down
Are there any protections available in DIRECT LAW?
No
How would you know that you are in DIRECT LAW?
“USE MAN PITCH TRIM” would be annunciated on the PFD as Auto Trim is lost
Would you have turn co-ordination and yaw damping in DIRECT MODE?
No
What is ABNORMAL ATTITUDE LAW and how is the aircraft controlled in the different axis?
Aircraft operates in ALTERNATE LAW without protections or stabilities.
* Pitch is alternate with no autotrim
* Yaw is direct
* Roll is direct
What happens to control of the different axis after a recovery in ABNORMAL ATTITUDE LAW?
- Pitch remains in ALTERNATE LAW
- Yaw is ALTERNATE
- Roll is DIRECT
If both ELAC:s fail, how will roll be controlled?
By roll spoilers only
What different MODES or operation do we have in NORMAL LAW?
- Ground mode
- Flight mode
- Flare mode
How does the control surfaces move in Ground Mode in NORMAL LAW?
Proportional movement to sidestick input
What are the elevator movement limits in Ground Mode in NORMAL LAW?
30 deg UP and 15 deg down
Changes to 20 deg UP and 15 deg down at 70 kts
What is inhibited at more than a 33 deg bank angle?
Auto pitch trim
What are the pitch attitude limits with different flap configurations?
Config 0-3 : 30 deg UP, 25 deg at low speed
Full: 25 deg UP, 20 deg at low speed
Max 15 deg DOWN at all configurations
What is the lowest achievable speed with the sidestick fully aft?
V alpha max