A320 autopilot in comparison to 737

[737aqua]

Does the a320 have a more advanced A/P system than the 737NG? Discuss please.

[Trevor Hale]

Yes. 100% True.

The Airbus is completely a brain. you can't make the aircraft go outside of its limits. every movement is computed and calculated.

With the Boeing if you tell it to pitch up at 6000 ft per min it will until it stalls and kills everyone.

(In the real world)

Not in flightsim world though.

[737aqua]

THanks. Besides FBW, does the a320 autopilot have more sophisticated modes, etc than the 737NG? I'm thinking of lateral, vertical modes, etc...

[Trevor Hale]

Vertically Inside the box yes. (behind the scenes) because you have no direct control over throttle. everything is calculated by Temp, and weight.

Laterally it is similar to the 737, however Bank angle is managed by the on board computers.

[737aqua]

Ah, so you can't disengage the A/T on VNAV in the a320? Is that what you mean?

So, can you move the throttle in the a320 manually up and down like the Boeing? Sorry for the basic question.

Also, why does the Boeings Throttle move while airbus' doesn't? Why did they make that decision?

[dodiano]

Hi there,

Airbus autopilot and Boeing autopilot are similar in every way... they use VANAV AND LNAD we used managed that takes on both... You can make the aircraft go outside the limits with the FCU or autopilot in the Airbus it will totally climb 6000 feet a min if you want it won´t stall cause of the Alpha Floor protection and angle of attack protections and it will mantain a certain angle but it will keep climbing till you take control or take him out of his V/S MODE... Both Boeing and Airbus has the exact same modes only they are named different but the function is the same and Boeing has like a separate switch or knob for each function while Airbus has the pull and push Rotary encoder switches which perform 2 or even 3 functions it depends!

Trevor you do have direct control over the throttles... Totally actually it wouldn´t be certified if you didn´t if you take it out of it´s climb mode it becomes a regular throttle as any other plane and all control is direct... Weight and temperature inserted in the MCDU are for performance calculations, fuel prediction, eta´s etc but you can totally fly the plane without those calculations inserted in the case you loose both computer you have aplane like any other...

Throttles on the Bus are moved like any other up and down they don´t move like Boeing cause we have an autothrust system while Boeing uses Autothrottles only difference between the 2 is that Boeing moves handles we in the Bus just leave them at the Climb detent and only see gauges moving up and down...

Hope it helps!

Regards.

Roberto

[737aqua]

Excellent, thank you.

One last question, does the a320 have FLCH mode?

Aqua

[dodiano]

Flight Level shange is a function of speed right?? If that is so it is Open Climb! Or Open Descent!

Regards,

Roberto

[Trevor Hale]

Fantastic Roberto,

I didn't realize that you could manually control the throttle during flight. I thought that during normal flight you had to have in the the CL Gate.

So in essence you could completely hand fly the airbus without the FCU?

Excellent.

Trev

[dodiano]

During normal flight you leave it in the CLimb gate all the way down to landing but the throttles could be controlled manually if you want in any phase of flight! And of course you can fly the bus without the FCU rememebr it is a plane like any other automation doesn´t make it an impossible plane!

Regards,

Roberto