Primary Flight Display (PFD)

Question 1

What does each column mean on the PFD?

Answer 1

A/THR 
VERTICAL 
LATERAL 
APPCH CAPABILITY, DH/MDA
AP, FD, A/THR ENGAGEMENT STATUS

Question 2

How is the crew made aware of mode changes on the FMA?

Answer 2

A white box is temporarily displayed around the new indication.

Question 3

How are armed modes displayed on the FMA?

Answer 3

• Blue – armed
• Magenta – armed because of a constraint
• Green – engaged

Question 4

When going around in the A320 NEO, if the FMA displays an amber message reading, “FOR GA: SET TOGA”, what action should the pilot take?

Answer 4

• The Pilot should move the thrust levers into the TOGA detent.
• When AP/FD is in approach vertical mode and aircraft is below 1000 ft RA,
this message is displayed if all thrust levers are moved to or above the MCT detent, but below the TOGA detent.

Question 5

When is the side stick position indication icon (white cross) displayed?

Answer 5

• Displayed when the first engine is started

* Disappears at liftoff

Question 6

What would the large red arrowheads indicate?

Answer 6

Pitch attitude of +30°

Question 7

After loading an ILS approach into the MCDU and selecting the (I)LS pushbutton, what indications on should be present on the PFD?

Answer 7

• ILS frequency and course
• ILS identifier (once in range and identified)
• LOC and GS scales

Question 8

When would the sideslip index change from yellow to blue?

Answer 8

In case of an engine failure during takeoff/go-around, it becomes a blue beta target.

Question 9

What does the yellow speed trend line on the airspeed display indicate?

Answer 9

The speed the aircraft will reach in 10 seconds if acceleration/deceleration remains constant.

Question 10

What is the difference between the magenta and blue target airspeeds?

Answer 10

• Magenta – Managed speed computed by the FMGC

* Blue – Selected speed on the FCU

Question 11

What is VLS and how is it displayed?

Answer 11

• Represents lowest selectable speed providing an appropriate margin to the stall speed
• Defined by the top of the amber strip along the airspeed scale
• In approach mode, it is equivalent to VREF

Question 12

What speed does VMAX represent and how is it displayed?

Answer 12

• It is the lowest of VMO/VMMO, VLE or VFE

* Defined by the bottom of a red and black strip along the speed scale

Question 13

What is Green Dot speed?

Answer 13

• Engine out operating speed in clean configuration
• Appears when the aircraft is in the clean configuration
• Corresponds to the best lift-to-drag ratio

Question 14

What is Ground Speed Mini (GSMINI)?

Answer 14

• Based on a calculated groundspeed at the runway
• Protects against actual groundspeed dropping below this calculated
groundspeed

Question 15

What does it mean if the magenta target airspeed triangle is above VAPP on the approach?

Answer 15

GSMINI has increased speed due to a higher headwind component at the present location.

Question 16

What are the 3 key factors in the GSMINI Calculations?

Answer 16

• TWR wind = the MAG WIND entered in the PERF approach page (no gusts)
• TWR headwind component = the component of the MAG WIND projected
on the runway axis (landing runway entered in the flight plan).
• Current Headwind Component = the actual wind measured by ADIRS is
projected on the aircraft axis to define the current headwind component. The current headwind component is used to compute the variable speed target during final (IAS target).

Question 17

What is the significance of the altitude window changing from yellow to amber?

Answer 17

The aircraft has deviated from the FCU selected altitude or flight level.

Question 18

When is altitude alerting automatically inhibited in flight?

Answer 18

• When slats are extended with the landing gear down

* On approach after glide slope capture

Question 19

What does it mean when the altitude digits change from green to amber?

Answer 19

The aircraft has descended below the MDA/DH entered into the FMGC.

Question 20

When is radio height displayed on the PFD?

Answer 20

Below 2,500 feet

Question 21

Information from ILS receiver 1 is displayed where?

Answer 21

• Captain’s PFD

* First Officer’s ND

Question 22

What would a flashing amber ILS indicate on the bottom of the PFD?

Answer 22

Flashes amber when APPR mode is armed and the ILS PUSHBUTTON is not selected.

Question 23

Is a visual warning provided to the pilot if the aircraft is stalling?

Answer 23

• Non NEO Aircraft = No visual indication

* NEO Aircraft = STALL warning indication on PFD