Review Questions - Flight Controls Flashcards
What does ELAC stand for?
Elevator Aileron Computer
How many ELACs are installed?
2
What are the functions of the ELAC?
a. Normal elevator and stabilizer control
b. Normal aileron control
c. Normal pitch and roll, Normal LAF
d. Alternate pitch, alternate LAF
e. Direct pitch and roll
f. Abnormal attitude
g. Aileron droop
h. Acquisition of autopilot orders
Under Normal Law, what does ELAC 1 control?
Primary - Aileron control (roll)
Standby - Elevator / Trimmable Horizontal Stabilizer control (backs up ELAC 2)
Under Normal Law, what does ELAC 2 control?
Primary - Elevator / Trimmable Horizontal Stabilizer
Standby - Aileron control (backs up ELAC 1)
What does SEC stand for?
Spoiler Elevator Computer
How many SECs are installed?
3
What functions are performed by the SECs?
a. Normal roll (by controlling the spoilers)
b. Speed brakes and ground spoilers (SEC 1 & 3 only)
c. Alternate pitch (SEC 1 & 2 only)
d. Direct pitch (SEC 1 & 2)
e. Direct roll
f. Abnormal LAF
g. Abnormal Attitude
Under Normal Law, what do the 3 SECs control?
Primary – Spoiler control (roll)
Standby – Elevator / Stabilizer control (SEC 1 & 2 back up the ELACs)
What is the sole purpose of SEC 3 in Normal Law?
Spoiler control
(Spoilers 1 & 2 only)
What is the definition of FAC?
Flight Augmentation Computer
How many FACs are installed?
2
What are the functions of the FACs?
a. Normal roll (turn coordination and yaw damping)
b. Rudder trim
c. Rudder travel limit
d. Alternate yaw
Is full rudder deflection available during all flight regimes?
No. Rudder deflection is limited as a function of airspeed
How are the flight control surfaces controlled and actuated?
All surfaces are electrically-controlled and hydraulically-actuated. The stabilizer and rudder can also be mechanically-controlled
When is automatic pitch trim available?
In flight under Normal law with bank angle less than 33° with or without autopilot engaged.
How is roll control normally achieved?
One wing tip aileron on each wing augmented by four spoilers on each wing
If the Rudder Travel Limit system fails, is maximum rudder deflection available?
Rudder deflection limit stops at the last value reached. When slats are extended, full rudder travel authority is resumed.
With only Green hydraulic system pressure available, will both the flaps and slats operate?
Yes, at 1/2 speed
What system prevents flap or slat asymmetry?
Wing Tip Brakes (WTB)
What causes the WTBs to activate?
ROAM
Runaway (Move handle to 1, all go to 3)
Overspeed (Flap jack screw breaks)
Asymmetry (Both on one side move farther)
Movement (Never touch handle, ALL just move)
If the WTB activates due to a flap asymmetry, can the slats still operate?
Yes, only flap operation is inhibited
How may Slat/Flap Control Computers (SFCC) are installed?
2
What would occur if one SFCC failed?
The slats and flaps would continue to operate, but at half speed
What flap/slat configurations correspond to position 1 on the FLAPS lever and how do they differ?
a. CONF 1+F is used for takeoff and provides both slats (position 1) + flaps
b. CONF 1 is used in-flight and is slats only
In what situation will the Flaps automatically retract?
During acceleration in CONF 1+F the FLAPS (not slats) will automatically retract to 0 at 210 knots
What is Alpha Lock?
This function inhibits slat retraction at high angles-of-attack and low speeds
What is indicated when the FLAP legend appears in cyan on the upper ECAM display?
Flaps/slats in transit
What happens to the ailerons when the flaps are extended?
The ailerons droop 5°
Is there any landing configuration when speed brake extension is inhibited?
A320
Flaps FULL
A321
Flaps 3 or Full
When do the Ground Spoilers automatically extend?
a. Partial – When reverse thrust is selected on at least one engine with the other at idle and one main landing gear strut is compressed
b. Full – At touchdown of both main gear , or in case of RTO with airspeed above 72 knots, when BOTH thrust levers at IDLE (if ground spoilers armed) or when reverse thrust is selected on at least one engine with the other thrust lever at IDLE (if the ground spoilers are not armed)
At touchdown with reverse selected and only one landing gear strut compressed, will the ground spoilers extend?
Partially – Full extension is limited until both main gear struts are compressed
When will the ground spoilers automatically retract?
When at least one thrust lever is advanced above IDLE
When is speedbrake extension inhibited
SAFET
SEC 1 and 3 have failed
AOA protection is active
Flaps FULL
Elevator (L or R) fault (only spoilers 3 and 4 are inhibited)
Thrust levers above the MCT position
With spoilers not armed, will the spoilers deploy for an RTO?
If the ground spoilers are not armed and the speed exceeeds 72 kts, the ground spoilers will automatically extend as soon as reverse is selected on one engine (the other thrust lever remains at idle)
In flight, what happens if a spoiler fault is detected or electrical power is lost?
The spoiler automatically retracts
What is the difference between the A320 and A321 regarding speed brake usage with the AP on?
A320
Maximum speedbrake deflection achievable with the AP engaged is obtained by setting the speedbrake lever to the half-way position
A321
With the AP engaged, the speed brake lever may be set to the full position to utilize maximum deflection
What protection/s do you have in Normal Law?
- Load factor limitation
- Pitch attitude protection
- High-angle-of-attack (AOA) protection
- High-speed protection
How does the High Speed Protection operate?
If Vmo/Mmo plus a predetermined factor is exceeded, the system induces a pitch-up input to limit aircraft speed
Can the pilot override the auto pitch-up associated with High Speed Protection in Normal Law?
No
What is Alpha Max?
The maximum angle of attack allowed in Normal Law, indicated by the top of the red strip on the airspeed scale
How does High Angle-of-Attack Protection operate?
When the angle of attack exceeds α prot, pitch trim ceases and angle of attack is now proportional to sidestick deflection, not to exceed α max even with full aft sidestick deflection
What protection do you have in Alternate Law?
a. Load Factor
b. High speed stability (Nose up command) but can be overridden
c. Low speed stability (Nose down command) but can be overridden
Can you override the high speed stability in Alternate Law?
Yes
What protections do you have in Direct Law?
None
If you are in Pitch Alternate Law, what law would Roll be?
Direct Law
When is there a direct relationship between sidestick and flight control surface deflection?
a. When in Normal Law, Ground Mode
b. When in Direct Law
c. When below 50 feet in Flare Mode (pitch only)
How would you get into Abnormal Attitude Law?
By exceeding approximately double the Normal Law limits
What is the purpose of Abnormal Attitude Law?
Allows the aircraft to be recovered from an unusual attitude
After recovery from an unusual attitude, what law will you be in?
When the aircraft returns within the normal flight envelope, the abnormal attitude law disengages and the following conditions remain for the remainder of the flight:
- The pitch Alternate Law is active with no protections and with autotrim
- The roll Direct Law is active
- The yaw Alternate Law is active
- F/CTL DIRECT LAW is displayed on the ECAM
Will Abnormal Attitude Law revert to Direct Law on landing gear extension?
No
What PFD indications indicate Normal Law?
a. Green = for pitch, bank, and overspeed limits
b. Amber/black (alpha protection) airspeed tape
What is indicated if the PFD pitch and bank limits are amber Xs?
You are not in Normal Law
What would cause you to revert to another law?
Multiple failures of redundant systems
What law are you in when you perform the flight control check on the ground?
Normal Law, Ground Mode
Can the aircraft be flown with a loss of all flight control computers?
Yes, in Mechanical Backup
How is the aircraft controlled in Mechanical Backup?
Pitch – Trim wheel (horizontal stabilizer)
Yaw – Rudder pedals (rudder)
Speed – Thrust levers
How is the THS normally operated in flight?
The flight control computers control trim functions automatically
If NO hydraulic power is available can the THS be positioned?
No - the THS requires hydraulic power from the Green or Yellow systems
If a complete flight control computer failure occurs can the THS be positioned?
Yes, mechanical trimming is possible by manually positioning the Pitch Trim Wheel
Can you move the PITCH trim wheel if all systems are working normally?
Manual inputs have priority over computer inputs. The autopilot will disconnect.
What happens to the THS when the aircraft enters into Ground Mode?
The trim automatically resets to zero (inside the green band)
What does the red arrow in the SIDE STICK PRIORITY light mean?
It illuminates in front of the pilot losing authority
How would you regain control if you had just lost sidestick authority?
The last pilot to press the pushbutton on the sidestick will have authority. An aural “Priority Left” or “Priority Right” will sound.
What do flashing green CAPT and F/O SIDESTICK PRIORITY lights indicate?
Both sidesticks have been moved simultaneously and neither pilot has taken priority
What happens when both pilots make an input simultaneously on the sidesticks?
a. The inputs are algebraically summed up to the normal limits
b. An aural “Dual Input” will sound
c. Green CAPT and F/O lights will illuminate
What happens if you turn the Rudder Trim with the autopilot engaged?
Nothing
Does the rudder RESET button work with the autopilot engaged?
No
When is the side stick position indication icon (white cross) displayed?
Displayed when the first engine is started
Disappears at liftoff
Can the aircraft be flown with a loss of all hydraulic systems?
No – you must have at least one
