IGX

Apologies in advance to non-military types for the following nomenclature.

The following story is close to the end of the cold war and I did not get shot at (until I became a cop, different story).

I was in the USMC 86-90....MOS was S3 dick (I thought I was going to be a Stinger or TOW guy when I joined, but that is the Marines for ya). I spent half of my 4 as NBC NCO and then the latter half was in Yuma doing Flight Clearance. If any of you did WTI or Top Gun during those times, good chance I met you at Base Ops.

Anyhow, I remember when the Airbus was still in test. 3L-21R in Yuma is one of the world's longest runways....I think only EDW has a longer runway in the US. The Airbus did extensive testing there and I must have seen hundreds, if not a thousand touch and go's.

Realizing the recent Airbus crashes are very likely terror related, I am wondering how much, if any, manual flight options pilots have in flying an aircraft like that or if they are just screwed by way of computer failure in the worst case scenarios.

Thoughts from pilots?

If you have a logic error in the Bus you have to revert to manual mode. Not a big deal. The Bus is fly by wire, so you need some automation, but Sully flew that Bus with just electrical power that operated the computers and hydraulics. It was designed so it is almost idiot proof. You can't make it Jawa proof. Even the Boeing and Lockheed products that are not "fly by wire" are nearly impossible to fly without hydraulics. Some aircraft have electrical powered backup hydraulics but most are driven mainly off the engine accessory gearbox.

Is it within the realm of possibility that they had a flight control malfunction? Sure. But very, very small chance.

The Airbus planes have a mechanical mode (maybe better called an "oh shit" mode) where when all else has hit the fan, you control your pitch with the mechanical trim wheel and roll/yaw with mechanical rudder backup. If it was the electrons that failed, then they still should have had enough control left to at least pick their crash site.

Like a giant bowling ball in the sky

powerlifter54 wrote:If you have a logic error in the Bus you have to revert to manual mode. Not a big deal. The Bus is fly by wire, so you need some automation, but Sully flew that Bus with just electrical power that operated the computers and hydraulics. It was designed so it is almost idiot proof. You can't make it Jawa proof. Even the Boeing and Lockheed products that are not "fly by wire" are nearly impossible to fly without hydraulics. Some aircraft have electrical powered backup hydraulics but most are driven mainly off the engine accessory gearbox.

Is it within the realm of possibility that they had a flight control malfunction? Sure. But very, very small chance.

Thanks, all.

The spirit of my question was more of a curiosity as to how much control a pilot could have if fly by wire failed. Totally agree regarding the jawa statement, too.

Some of the Airbus machines have opposite sidesticks, which is weird.

The Captain would have their stick on their left, rather than a yoke between the legs.

Although, my father once flew with a French copilot who said, of the Airbus design; "You see, in France, we put the tray table on your lap, and build the plane around it."

Even on United, the Airbus will have a woman repeat, "Retard" when approaching stall speeds on takeoffs and landings.

Affectionately making Airbus one of the only airplanes that makes fun of you.

Testiclaw wrote:Some of the Airbus machines have opposite sidesticks, which is weird.

The Captain would have their stick on their left, rather than a yoke between the legs.

Although, my father once flew with a French copilot who said, of the Airbus design; "You see, in France, we put the tray table on your lap, and build the plane around it."

Even on United, the Airbus will have a woman repeat, "Retard" when approaching stall speeds on takeoffs and landings.

Affectionately making Airbus one of the only airplanes that makes fun of you.

Have not flown it but have ridden the jumpseat. The "retard" call is a bit humorous. The sidestick controllers look weird but have never met anybody who didn't love flying that jet. Cockpit is huge, and only issue i have heard is the logic of the Flight Management Computer is very much the opposite of Boeing products. Great airplane. Still leaning toward Jawas, but the Valujet 592 accident with a fire starting in the cargo compartment and moving into Avionics bay comes to mind.