Algol, I cannot believe you made me open my books on a day off, shame on you!!!
Anyway, if the A/THR is active and the FD's are off, the A/THR will be operating in the speed mode, meaning it will be controlling the speed to Vmax, which with flaps three would be 185. You could select a lower speed, say 170 by using the FCU (the speed knob)
If A/THR is not active, the levers not being in the CLimb detent with two engines or FLX/MCT with one engine, then the A/THR system would command thrust relative to the TLA, meaning that TOGA would give you TOGA thrust and then you will have to manage speed with pitch.
One scenario that often produces overspeed is Microburts/Windshear in the sim, in this case we will look at a goaround under these conditions, config full, gear down, FD's on, A/THR active, you are at 500 feet on final approach:
Either you detect/suspect windshear or the lovely synthetic voice tells you. Apply TOGA thrust and follow the FD's, once emerging from the shear, you better be quick reconfiguring, since flaps full speed is 177 knots and the increase in speed is very rapid, remember that in TOGA the TL are controlling thrust and not speed. So coming out you would select flaps three as speed dictates, gear up and flap retraction on schedule, while bringing the TL to CL which would now control A/THR to command thrust for speed.
Goaround with no FD's are not that difficult, except for the fact that Ancient mentioned, most of the time the FD's are on.
Anyway, here we go: TL to TOGA, rotate to 15 degrees of pitch while calling for flaps to three, positive rate gear comes up, at acceleration altitude, select desired speed, engage A/THR by moving the TL's to the CL detent and activating A/THR, retract flaps on schedule. Push F/A call button and ask for another coffee.
The only problem is the fact that goarounds are seldom performed, that we are used to having the FD's on and A/THR controlling speed. How many Airbus drivers have done a takeoff with FD's and A/THR off in the last three months, in there are a few Gotcha's,but again it is no big deal.
There is another thread concerning automation and degradation of flying skills, so I will only briefly state, that people who had good flying skills prior to flying these new wonders of the world, do very well when fit hits the shan, it might not always be pretty, but safety is never in doubt. I do however think, that pilots who have little experience in round dial airplanes have trouble. They get used to the automation quickly and rely on it to heavily.
The Airbus is a remarkably capable airplane, it is very automated, has many built in protection features, but like all airplanes, it does have its quirks and will bite you if you do not understand what is happening.
( This should in no way be construed as a probable cause as to the loss of Gulf Air's A-320, nor as an indication as to the skill of low time pilots)
[This message has been edited by Diesel8 (edited 07 September 2000).]