Meikleour
No one seems to have mentioned the fact that the THS can be moved manually to control the pitch at all times, even in flight.
The aerodynamic authority of the THS is way in excess of the elevator authority.
This fact was very obvious while conducting Upset Recovery Training in the sim when use of the THS greatly speeds up the recovery action.
Just because it isn't touched after setting the take-off trim after start doesn't mean that it can not be used in flight.
No Airbus manual will say this however.
Sorry to chime in late on this thread...just noticed it.
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Meikleour said it all,
"the THS can be moved manually to control the pitch at all times,"
The Airbus as with Boeing and all modern airliners uses lots of sensors to assist pilots and make the flying task easier. Sometimes failures make those helpful little angels turn into devils and cause problems.
But us old and experienced pilots should not be phased when something weird happens say in pitch. The first thing to do when the aircraft does something unexpected is, as Airbus recommends, disconnect the autopilot.
However, if you still have pitch control problems such as limited authority using the elevator control...well the only other primary control surface that is that gigantic all-flying-tail that we use for trim.
The elevators are small and so the pitch effect is for refined pitch adjustments. The all-flying tail is huge is is used to trim out the very large pitching moments associated with flap selection and the large CG and speed range of an airliner.
So if the elevators are insufficient to control pitch, then simply grasp the trim wheel and control the pitch using the all flying tail (trimmable horizontal stabiliser THS or whatever it's called on your jet).
If something else is automatically controlling the all flying tail (THS) and fighting you...turn it off!
In case of surprise...forget the yellow brick road, the magenta line, the magic of the autopilot, digital flight control stability and augmentation, or whatever and...
Fly the aircraft by manually controlling the surfaces that are needed for the situation.
In case of doubt or surprise, ignore the magic and you fly the aircraft...don't let it fly you!
We normally set the trim wheel for take-off and then we forget it all about it. Watch that little sucker from time t time next time you go flying...it will explain a lot as to what is going on.
(And in jet upset it may or will become the primary pitch control).