sticks and wheels

[gas_man]

now that the sidestick is very mature techology , having been on the bus, i would like to know the situation regarding its status when compared to a conventional control column. aren't there huge advantages of the stick regarding space and instrument visibity? what have all the years of its use shown. if superior , will boeing swallow its pride and introduce it? without any prejudice , what do you guys think ? . .. .prasanna

[SFly]

You get a table with the sidestick! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .I believe Boeing during 777 development asked a selection of pilots what they wanted and they voted against the stick, although that might have been swayed if they were already Boeing drivers. Airbus pilots have gotten used to the sidestick; Boeing pilots are used to the control column. I would say that it is six-of-one / half-a-dozen-of-the-other. If there were any great advantages either way, you can bet that all manufacturors would be doing it.. .. .SFly

[gas_man]

at the start , was boeing critical of the sidestick?

[Jet II]

I believe most British Airways pilots prefer the side-stick - having a side-stick gives them a little table on which to fill in their expense claims <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />

[low n' slow]

I've heard that people not accustomed to the sidestick and fly by wire technology are annoyed bo the fact that there is no direct contact with the control surfaces meaning that the stick doesn't move when the autopilot is engaged. This possibly because it is yet another step of extracting the pilots from the flying loop. I know, just look at the PFD and other instruments and all information is given, but is this really all information you need? Besides checking if the flight director is followed I would like to know what the autopilot is doing to maintain the flight path.... .. . I have never flown anything but gliders and the C172 so I haven't really got the knowledge to debate this subjuect <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" /> , the above is only what I've heard on a programme on the discovery channel ( I know, don't believe everything you see on telly).... .. .appologies in advance for any incorrections regarding spelling or grammar. .. .regards/lns

[ILS27R]

Going off topic here sorry, but still to do with Airbus aircraft. Does anyone know what possessed Airbus to hide most of the circuit breakers on the A330- compared to the A320? Aren't the vast majority of CBs now located in the avionics bay below the flightdeck? Why?. .. .I think the sidestick was primarly introduced as a selling point. What better. The A320 was the only civil aircraft to have a sidestick. BANG it captures both the public and pilot imagination in a flash. What better way to get your new airliner in the news and furthermore something that the public can actually see for themselves rather than talking about the other 'clever' stuff such as C* law etc.. .. .ILS27R. . . . <small>[ 25 March 2002, 15:16: Message edited by: ILS27R ]</small>

[Hand Solo]

Why do you need all the C/Bs at hand? Don't think I've ever pulled more than a dozen of them in flight on an A320 and have no idea what the remaining 95% control or affect, hence would never pull them anyway.. .. .If the sidestick was introduced as a selling point then it is undoubtedly the most expensive selling point in aviation history given the vastly expensive proving process of the sidestick/FBW interface. The sidestick exists because in a full fly-by-wire aircraft with flight envelope protection there's no real need for a control column. Why waste space and cash building a moving control column into an aircraft which won't necessarily mimic what the aircraft is doing? Also a control column wouldn't acurately represent the flight control laws of the aircraft as the Airbus method of control is substantially different from conevntional aircraft. Furthermore by introducing the sidestick you can build commonality across a range of aircraft as the 319 up to the 340 have a broadly similar 'feel' to their handling (or so I'm told), something which you won't get on a 737, 757 and 747.