Zymurgist wrote in
Post #24
AF447 was in Alternate Law flight mode. This turns off the rudder limiter and allows the pilot full rudder deflection (~+/-30d) even if travelling at cruise speed. Normally the rudder is limited to about 4d of travel at cruise.
AF447 was an A330-206, and contrary to what you have indicated, when the control mode changes from Normal to Alternate Law, the Rudder Travel Limiter Unit locks the maximum available amount of rudder travel at the last valid angle based on CAS and barometric altitude. At FL350 and M0.80 this was +/-7.9°, and is the value found by Airbus on investigation of the RTLU after the recovery of the Vertical Stabilizer. The A330 series also has a PTLU fitted as standard.
mm43
Last edited by mm43; 9th Aug 2010 at 20:01.
Reason: corrected rtlu deflection value