Here's a question that is only slightly off-topic but nevertheless Airbus throttle-related...
As I understand it when you slide the throttles into one of the gates or detents on take-off, the autothrottle automatically kicks in and delivers TOGA/FLEX as selected and then climb once airborne and the throttles are moved back. Now when it comes to a visual approach and you want to disconnect the autothrottle, how do you select a thrust setting manually without the throttles clicking into one of the gates? Does this not just re-arm the autothrottle? I imagine the Airbus is cleverer than that and probably prevents this happening but are the gates disarmed or something when operating outside of the autothrottle?
Have had a look in the A320/330 FCOM but it doesn't seem to cover it.
PS - Having used "autothrottle" throughout the whole of my post, please take it to read "autothrust" as I cannot be arsed changing it all, ta!