For Funnel Cloud et al who seek enlightenmnet on the Airbus at landing; selected highlights from the A321 FCOM (NB NO TAILSTRIKE PROTECTION ON ANY AIRBUS TYPES)
From FCOM 1 - Flight Controls;
PITCH ATTITUDE PROTECTION
Pitch attitude is limited to :
30° nose up in conf 0 to 3 (progressively reduced to 25° at low speed).
25° nose up in conf FULL (progressively reduced to 20° at low speed).
15° nose down (indicated by green symbols "=" on the PFD's pitch scale).
From FCOM 3 - Supplementary Techniques
LANDING MODE
The system's landing mode gives the aircraft a stabilized flight path and makes a conventional flare and touchdown. It carries out the initial approach as this manual described earlier. At 50 feet, the system memorizes the attitude, usually 3° or 4° nose up. From 30 feet down, this value washes out over eight seconds to - 2°. The result is that the pilot has to exert a progressive pull to increase pitch gently in the flare. He should pull the thrust levers back at or above 20 feet, and the landing should occur without a long flare. Touchdown quality is better and more repeatable at fairly flat attitudes. An audible "RETARD" callout reminds the pilot if he has not pulled back the thrust levers when the aircraft has reached 20 feet.
Crosswind landings are conventional. The preferred technique is to use the rudder to align the aircraft with the runway heading, during the flare, while using lateral control to maintain the aircraft on the runway centerline (Refer to SOP 3.03.22). The lateral control mode does not change until the wheels are on the ground, so there is no discontinuity in the control laws. The aircraft tends to roll gently in the conventional sense as drift decreases, and the pilot may have to use some normal cross control to maintain roll attitude.
Even during an approach in considerable turbulence, the control system resists the disturbances quite well without pilot inputs. In fact, the pilot should try to limit his control inputs to those necessary to correct the flight path trajectory and leave the task of countering air disturbances to the flight control system.
Derotation is conventional. The pilot releases the back pressure he was holding for the flare and the nose wheel comes down nicely.
Pitch trim then resets to zero.
Other Important bits from FCOM 3;
LANDING
At approximately 30 feet :
-FLARE PERFORM
-ATTITUDE MONITOR
The PNF should monitor the attitude, and call out :
"PITCH, PITCH", if the pitch angle reaches 7.5 degrees.
"BANK, BANK", if the bank angle reaches 7 degrees.
-THRUST levers IDLE
In manual landing conditions, the "RETARD" callout is generated at 20 feet RA, as a reminder. Start a gentle progressive flare, and allow the aircraft to touch down without prolonged float.
Ground clearance
Avoid flaring high.
A tailstrike occurs, if the pitch attitude exceeds 11 degrees (9.5 degrees with the landing gear compressed).
A wingtip or engine scrape occurs, if the roll angle exceeds 18 degrees (16 degrees with the landing gear compressed).
mcdude