Airbus throttle

[Gabriel]

Thanks Wilco.

Hi Wilco



Thanks for the info - I thought that manual retard was an exclusive Airbus thing. Maybe they forgot to patent it.

You sure about the E ???

Cheers
Tom

I am sure about the e... but no capital one of course

http://boeing.com/

wilco737

[Tomtom]

Hi Wilco

I used to fly 737s and the thrust levers are not moved to idle automatically. You have to do that manually as well. Unless you do an autoland, then pretty much every airplane reduces thrust for landing.

And it is BoEings and not Boings

wilco737

Thanks for the info - I thought that manual retard was an exclusive Airbus thing. Maybe they forgot to patent it.

You sure about the E ???

Cheers
Tom

And how the plane knows if you are doing an autoland or just an ILS approach from which you'll eventually take-over?

I'm thinking of the Turkish accident where the A/T went to iddle automatically because of a faulty RAlt reading that made the A/T switch to "flare" mode thus idling the levers. They were not in an autoland but in a single channel ILS approach.

The plane knows that if you have both autopilots engaged or not. If you are on the ILS with both AP on and A/TH on the thrust will be reduced to idle at 27 feet when the RETARD mode engages. This happens as well if you nhave only one autopilot is engaged. BUT the minimum use height of the 737 autopilot was higher than 27 feet (cannot remember the exact height). Means that you had to disengage the AP well before 27 feet. So the autothrust knows well ahead that you are not doing an aotuland and will not retard the throttles to idle.

wilco737

[Gabriel]

I used to fly 737s and the thrust levers are not moved to idle automatically. You have to do that manually as well. Unless you do an autoland, then pretty much every airplane reduces thrust for landing.

And how the plane knows if you are doing an autoland or just an ILS approach from which you'll eventually take-over?

I'm thinking of the Turkish accident where the A/T went to iddle automatically because of a faulty RAlt reading that made the A/T switch to "flare" mode thus idling the levers. They were not in an autoland but in a single channel ILS approach.

Another side-note: Upon touch-down, unlike the Boings, the thrust levers are not automatically moved to the idle position when there is enough weight on the main gear, but the pilot has to do that manually. Your friendly synthetic voice in the cockpit reminds you with "Retard" not that you are one, but to remind you to manually pull the throttle back into the idle detent.

I used to fly 737s and the thrust levers are not moved to idle automatically. You have to do that manually as well. Unless you do an autoland, then pretty much every airplane reduces thrust for landing.

And it is BoEings and not Boings

wilco737

[Tomtom]

Airbus managed thrust

Hi Alessio,

Hi everyone! I was wondering how the Airbus throttle works. I know that they are different from boeing throttle and they have 5 different "gates" for different situation. Now the question is: Is there a way to use the airbus levers like Boeing ? For example how can Airbus pilots supply the right power to start taxing? Thank you!

Alessio

A little bit OT, but the actual thrust in AutoThrust mode is managed by the Flight Computers.

The Flex T/O setting for example is basically derived from T/O weight, length of runway and weather. The computer calculates the necessary thrust and V-Speeds (V1, VR and V2).
Side note: there are several incidents where the computer was fed incorrect data, usually too light, and not enough thrust was set. Without intervention of the flight crew, generally select TO/GA and manage AOA, you might end up with a tail strike or worst.

If AutoThrust is off there is an area marked on the throttle quadrant (I think it yellow diagonal lines) in which you adjust the throttle (I'm not fully sure on this one...)

The "gates" I believe are called detents.

Another side-note: Upon touch-down, unlike the Boings, the thrust levers are not automatically moved to the idle position when there is enough weight on the main gear, but the pilot has to do that manually. Your friendly synthetic voice in the cockpit reminds you with "Retard" not that you are one, but to remind you to manually pull the throttle back into the idle detent.

Perfect, everything is clear now! Thank you very much Wilco!

Alessio

No problem. Anytime

wilco737

[ZK-OKH]

Perfect, everything is clear now! Thank you very much Wilco!

Alessio

So in the end Airbus piltos can choose how tho use throttles: Using notches or "normally" pushing and pulling levers?

Alessio

Yes, basically it is a 'normal' throttle system. During A/THR operation the throttles are in the CLB notch and don't move, but if you disengage the A/THR you can move them as much as you like - just like in every other airplane then

And if you initiate a go around, advance the throttles to TO/GA and the airplane sets go around thrust and the go around modes on the PFD are engaged as well.

wilco737

[ZK-OKH]

So in the end Airbus pilots can choose how tho use throttles: Using notches or "normally" pushing and pulling levers?

Alessio

Thank you Wilco! And what about a manual landing? After the A/THR disconnect the pilot should be able to supply the power he needs right?

Alessio

The same. You pull the throttles out of the CLB notch to the actual thrust setting (can be seen on the display) and then you disconnect the A/THR and then it works as a normal throttle.

wilco737

[ZK-OKH]

Thank you Wilco! And what about a manual landing? After the A/THR disconnect the pilot should be able to supply the power he needs right?

Alessio

I only flew Boeings and MDs so far, but I think the notches are: reverse, idle, CLB/ MCT, flex take off, TO/GA.

To start taxi you just move the throttles from the idle position. Until you haven't moved them to the first notch you can adjust the throttles just like in every other jet as well. The further up, the more thrust.

wilco737

[ZK-OKH]

Hi everyone! I was wondering how the Airbus throttle works. I know that they are different from boeing throttle and they have 5 different "gates" for different situation. Now the question is: Is there a way to use the airbus levers like Boeing ? For example how can Airbus pilots supply the right power to start taxing? Thank you!

Alessio