AF 447 questions

[mortyoung]

I have some questions about AF 447’s last flight and Airbus.
I’m not a pilot, but I’m preparing an article for an aviation newsletter and need help from airline pilots.
Here goes:
What is your opinion of joysticks instead of the traditional wheel and column?
Is it true that the Airbus joystick has no resistance effect? And that the auto pilot can take over without a decision by the pilot?
Is it true that AF or is it Airbus, has set up the computerized system to take over without a decision from the pilot?
Is the Angle of Attack device lacking from only Airbus aircraft? What about Boeing? Do you consider the AOA a necessity that should be installed in airliners?

I won’t unload any more queries, but would greatly appreciate your opinions and experiences along the above lines.

[porterjet]

What the heck, I’ve got nothing better to do tonight so I’ll put my 3/4 of a cents worth in. I have no direct experience with Airbus but do have some jet experience.

@mortyoung

I have some questions about AF 447’s last flight and Airbus.
I’m not a pilot, but I’m preparing an article for an aviation newsletter and need help from airline pilots.
Here goes:
What is your opinion of joysticks instead of the traditional wheel and column?no problem with either, in light aircraft the old fashioned stick is a bit more natural.
Is it true that the Airbus joystick has no resistance effect?* I don’t know, I know the autothrottles do not move the throttle levers.*
And that the auto pilot can take over without a decision by the pilot?* That’s kind of a broad statement. The airbus computers have limits built in so the aircraft cannot exceed certain limits. They don’t just “take over” on a whim. When the computer are offline, for whatever reason, it is the crews responsibility to not exceed those limits.*
Is it true that AF or is it Airbus, has set up the computerized system to take over without a decision from the pilot?* Only in the sense of the above question.*
Is the Angle of Attack device lacking from only Airbus aircraft? What about Boeing? Do you consider the AOA a necessity that should be installed in airliners? As far as I know all modern, and most not so modern, jets have an AOA system. Including Airbus… Among other things the stall warning system uses input from the AOA. I think Airbus uses “Alpha floor” as their terminology for maximum angle of attack.

airbusdriver.net/airbus_fltlaws.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_con … ctronic%29

I won’t unload any more queries, but would greatly appreciate your opinions and experiences along the above lines.

[mortyoung]

[quote=“porterjet”]
What the heck, I’ve got nothing better to do tonight so I’ll put my 3/4 of a cents worth in. I have no direct experience with Airbus but do have some jet experience.

@mortyoung

I have some questions about AF 447’s last flight and Airbus.
I’m not a pilot, but I’m preparing an article for an aviation newsletter and need help from airline pilots.
Here goes:
What is your opinion of joysticks instead of the traditional wheel and column?no problem with either, in light aircraft the old fashioned stick is a bit more natural.[/quote]

Is it true that the Airbus joystick has no resistance effect?* I don’t know, I know the autothrottles do not move the throttle levers.*
And that the auto pilot can take over without a decision by the pilot?* That’s kind of a broad statement. The airbus computers have limits built in so the aircraft cannot exceed certain limits. They don’t just “take over” on a whim. When the computer are offline, for whatever reason, it is the crews responsibility to not exceed those limits.*
Is it true that AF or is it Airbus, has set up the computerized system to take over without a decision from the pilot?* Only in the sense of the above question.*
Is the Angle of Attack device lacking from only Airbus aircraft? What about Boeing? Do you consider the AOA a necessity that should be installed in airliners? As far as I know all modern, and most not so modern, jets have an AOA system. Including Airbus… Among other things the stall warning system uses input from the AOA. I think Airbus uses “Alpha floor” as their terminology for maximum angle of attack.

airbusdriver.net/airbus_fltlaws.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_con … ctronic%29

I won’t unload any more queries, but would greatly appreciate your opinions and experiences along the above lines.

----- Thanks very much! I’ve looked at the Wikipedia URLS you attached, too.