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Old 17th Dec 2011, 01:47
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Sqwak7700
 
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Also, I wonder if AF 447 would have occurred if the PFD's displayed the stick inputs (upper right display in automation)???
It would, but it would be a huge political loss to Airbus. Airbus has many good ideas and innovations, but they got the whole control feedback issue deadly wrong, and it has caused many accidents - who knows how many incidents.

The flight controls and engine controls should move - period. Many Airbus pilots will give you the old line that "you get used to it". That is not a good enough reason. You can get used to eating feces for dinner every night if you do it for long enough, that doesn't mean it is a good idea.

They can design systems to compensate, like the one you suggest about showing the stick position on the PFD, but that is just compensating for poor design. The problem with Airbus is that they are deeply committed to their current setup, it is in all of their aircraft (except the A300/310 series of course).

To go back to a control system that moves and provides feedback to the pilots would be a huge loss of face to Airbus and I doubt they would do it. But it is the only way forward to avoid further loss of life.
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