DC-ATE;
But, I have read enough from those that HAVE flown these types to know that I'm glad I never had to.
Reading limited commentary here and being "glad I never had to. [fly the Airbus]" are personal statement of opinion which do not relate to the accident and do not testify to anything regarding an Airbus aircraft.
It is utterly amazing to read the differences expressed by those that fly these things as to how various systems operate. There are disagreements everywhere. The manuals are simply too full of information that not even a computer scientist could possibly remember/recall in the time of need. Who ever heard of an aircraft having THREE different flight control laws?!
Well DC-ATE that's the very same as what the king said to Mozart regarding his latest opera, "There's just too many notes!". In DC8 terms, it's like say, "there's far too much piping and too many pumps for my liking".
But in the larger issue, citing disagreements over discussions between pilots here on fbw systems as "cases in point" is simply a personal opinion which advances nothing, proves nothing and teaches nothing. Rather, the views express a prejudged opinion solidified without the benefit of knowledge or experience.
Anyone who says "the computer" is flying the airplane against the pilot's wishes/demands/requirements has never flown the aircraft. I've seen a lot of screw-ups on the 'bus and they are generally the result of a lack in some of the basic requirements like good training, experience and attitude - not always, but almost always.
Whatever happend to AF447, apparently happend so fast, the crew had no chance to sort out all the warnings being displayed on their panel. They probably had no chance to simply FLY their aircraft.
States the obvious. I'm sure you've seen more than one toppled gyro, iced-over windshield, unreliable speed indicator, difficult-to-read altimeter and a cockpit tossing so badly you can't read a thing in your day and I'm sure you know colleagues who had superb hands who flew a perfectly serviceable aircraft and it's passengers into a mountain or the ground. Did they have any more of a chance? If these guys lost everything for whatever reason (and we do NOT know those reasons or that they lost everything), and were being tossed like a cork in white water, what chance do any "hands" have?
Like it or not, his (Desertia) reference to having a "...piece of wire or hydraulics controlling..." says alot, along with those of us, yourself included, who learned how to "fly" airplanes and not manipulate a computer to do it for us.
Well, I don't mean to be unkind, but it really says nothing. The Fleet 80 I learned on is in principle no different than the A340. If one understands one's airplane and practises to learn more, one can fly the 340 like any aircraft including Boeing's 787.
My overriding point is, as always,
one respected the limits of the machine one was in no matter when one flew, then or now. Respect means
one learns about one's craft and one's airplane.
From your writing I
know you knew your machine and cared. The 320/340 series is no different, nor is the 777 nor will be the 787 nor are those who fly present fbw aircraft.
An accident such as we now have does not negate over two decades of experience with the type, no more than the Amsterdam accident negates the brilliant 3 (almost 4)-decade experience with the 737.
Changing your mind isn't the goal. One goal is challenging ignorant comments about automatic flight. We are all free to have a say of course but that doesn't make what is said, right. Nor does that mean that autoflight is "innocent" by any means, but it takes some time to know the traps and corners and experience to discuss them legitimately.
The deeper goal is to recapture what has been lost and is becoming more elusive as "internet knowledge" makes "laptop experts" of more and more people, who cruise, scan, quote and freely shove an oar into a complex, specialist discussion without understanding; I am looking to recapture an abiding respect for those who actually have done, or still do the work on a professional, daily basis and who offer their time and expertise freely to help others who are genuinely keen to learn about these aircraft and what it really means to investigate such a tragic fatal accident.
best,
PJ2