AirBus Auto Pilot Mod

[Longtimer]

Is this a fix for past problems (other models of Airbus) or just a tweak that might be beneficial?

EASA certifies new Auto-Pilot/Flight-Director TCAS mode for A380
Friday August 21, 2009
EASA certified a new Auto-Pilot/Flight-Director TCAS mode for the A380 that Airbus said "essentially completes the existing TCAS functionality by implementing a TCAS vertical guidance feature into the Auto Flight computer." It explained that "the main benefit" is that "the pilot can now fly the aircraft without switching out of one mode and into another. . . This enhanced TCAS mode minimizes potential overreactions or inverse reactions while preserving concentration at a critical time." In addition to being certified on the A380, the AP/FD TCAS mode will become available for retrofit on other Airbus fly-by-wire aircraft, the manufacturer said.

[jshg]

It's an improvement. Presently, if there is a TCAS resolution command the autopilot must be disconnected, the F/D switched off and the aircraft manually flown out of the V/S red sector.
The new mod means (I think) that there is no need to switch off the F/D, and quite possibly that the aircraft might do it automatically on autopilot.

[DBate]

An improvement indeed. Analysis of TCAS events during the last couple of years showed that there were several occasion on which pilots misinterpreted the TCAS command 'ADJUST VERTICAL SPEED' - which always means to REDUCE the vertical speed - and instead gave an input in the complete opposite direction.

E.g. during a 'CLIMB' RA, followed by a 'ADJUST VERTICAL SPEED', some pilots initiated a descent, while just a reduction in vertical speed was asked.

With the new certification and the possibility to use the FD during a TCAS RA the probability for such an event is further reduced.

But that is still no replacement for proper crew training...

Just my 2 cents,
DBate

[PositiveRate876]

This is what the FMA will look like
during a TCAS RA.

PF will announce the FMA change and sit back and go back to reading the paper. :}

Standard on the A350, and a MOD on other busses.

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/learmount/assets_c/2009/06/TCAS-thumb-300x298-37262.jpg

[Caudillo]

Impressive margin there from hi speed and stall at such an altitude..

[PositiveRate876]

LOL
Yeah it looks like it was photoshopped to demo the new system.
Plus the Mach # is missing as well.

[aguadalte]

Plus the Mach # is missing as well.

...of course, 300Kts of IAS would lead to an over-speed at FL360 :)