Originally Posted by
pineteam
Visual approaches are to be flown using outside references. Programming the FMS is a big no no by Airbus. I remember reading it in one of the Airbus Safety First Mags. Why would you do that anyway... Flying visual is easy.
Yes, but one must reckon that having the right runway for landing is mandatory.
If you look at the fcom, visual approach, you will notice they ask you to activate secondary.
Why is that ? If you're on final on rwy 27R, you can't perform a sidestep onto 27L except if it was briefed and prepared in secondary. Whereas for other aircraft it would not pose any problem.
One captain told me a valid reason : our operator (but not airbus) requires us to have at least one instrumental way of checking glide path (papi, or the CF on the a320, or glide, or any other means) and mainly because if there was a glide and you go for a runway that is closer, you may get spurrious too low glide alarm.