Originally Posted by
stilton
Never flown any kind of Airbus so I’m trying to educate myself, from what I’ve read even with auto thrust on it does not reduce thrust to idle before touchdown but cues the PF to do so whether it’s a manually flown approach or full Autoland?
On an autoland it will reduce thrust to idle, the RETARD mode is only available for an autoland. On a autoland the AT will enter RETARD mode at around 30ft RA, and thrust will reduce to idle. The “RETARD, RETARD”callout in this scenario is triggered at 10ft (as opposed to 20ft for a manual landing) and the PF will promptly select set the levers to the IDLE detent, this disconnects the AT.
I’m quite happy with mandatory autothrust, it gives me a ready excuse every time
!
Edit: this is the 320 family I’m talking about. No experience on other Airbus types, but I can talk about Boeings for ages as long suffering colleagues find out in the cruise/bar.