AIRBUS Dual RA fault & Flight control laws

[SIDSTAR]

The 320 paper checklist states "CREW AWARENESS"

This is a nasty problem if you're not ready for the implications. Imagine:-

1. Direct Law for landing - therefore flap 3 and a landing distance increment of 1.35. Not something to discover when you put the gear down.

2. APP pushbutton u/s (LOC will work for a while!)

3. No Autopilot

4. No autocallouts

5. No GPWS
Basically much of your normal backup systems for a anormal approach are gone and it can really throw pilots.

I have seen numerous pilots in the sim totally screw up this problem simply because either they weren't aware of the implications of a seemingly innocuous failure or didn't read FCOM 3. Every time you have a failure get out FCOM 3 after you've finished the ECAM procedure to see what gems may be hidden in the notes etc.

Nice a/c the 320, until you see the problems that such a simple failure can create. In most other types you would merely lose your GPWS and Cat 2/3 capability.

In the 320 it virtually puts you into an emergency situation and you'd better be ready for it. Thankfully, most reputable 320 operators that I know, drill this into their crews in recurrent training.