Originally Posted by
Check Airman
How about another scenario? You're in the climb, and just as ALT* engages, ATC gives a further climb and a direct. The PM reads it back, gets into the FMS to attend to the direct clearance, meanwhile the FD bar is now commanding a pitch for level flight. What would your reaction be?
Is that really supposed to be a tricky question ?
1 - Wait for the PM to readback the instruction (if we got it wrong/it was not for us in ALT* we are in for a level bust)
2 - After readback from the PM, the PF dials the new ALTITUDE in the FCU and calls it XXX BLUE - PM checks.
3 - PF selects an appropriate vertical mode. If the aircraft ended up in ALT in the mean time so be it.
4 - PF or PM (depending on airline SOPs) sets a direct to wherever.
The whole procedure in an orderly and disciplined way will probably take less than 10 seconds or so.