Mad (Flt) Scientist, cod liver oil:
The flight control check is done very thoroughly, before every flight. The position of the controls is monitored on the Lower Ecam as the check is done.
Here's how the 320 flight control check might go - no particular airline's procedures, just an example:
Prior to performing the rudder pedal check the Captain must press the PEDALS DISC Pushbutton on the Steering Handwheel.
The Captain shall apply full sidestick and rudder pedal deflections. The F/O announces the control deflections as they are seen on the ECAM Flight Control Page.
On the F/CTL page, the F/O will check full travel and correct sense of all elevators and all aileron deflections, the correct deflection and retraction of spoilers, and full travel of the rudder. The F/O will call each position only when fully reached. The Captain silently checks that the F/O calls are in accordance with the sidestick or rudder pedal order.
In order to reach full travel, full sidestick shall be held at full deflection for 2 seconds.
Aileron neutral position when flaps are extended is 5 degrees of aileron droop.
When the Captain's flight control check is complete, the F/O shall apply full sidestick deflections, and will silently check full travel and the correct deflection (sense) of all elevators and all ailerons, and the correct deflection and retraction of all spoilers on the ECAM F/CTL page.
Hmm. From what I understand of A320 control architecture (and I'll be happy to be corrected) that procedure would seem
not to operate the most inboard spoiler panel on each side, which seems to be for ground lift dump only and not commanded by the sidesticks. I retracted my previous comment because I found a specific reference to checking the ground spoilers on another aircrafft.