Originally Posted by PJ2
Over the years there were so few circumstances that made such knowledge necessary that I quickly got used to the symbol's absence.
You are using here the right term :
We get used to be deprived of a valuable source of data … How is it better ?
It is for those few circumstances that the information is useful and necessary … but missing.
Usually, that information is most useful for the rotation and the flare, but AF447 now demonstrates how it is also valuable at FL350.
The yoke may have made an initial difference given the visibility of its movement rearward, but almost within seconds, the results of the sidestick's half-way deflection were known to both pilots
Again, why wait for the final result when the initial action is immediate and first class information for a PNF to better appreciate why the result is undesirable. How is it better for a concept to suppress such source of meaningful information ?
I was a bit taken aback and even mildly concerned that the "iron cross" symbol for the position of the opposite sidestick which was displayed on the PFD during takeoff, was removed at, (IIRC) 100ft RA.
I have not known that time, but in 98 the iron cross was already removed as soon as there was no weight on wheels anymore. Lately,
as iceman50 made me realize, that indicator is now removed as soon there is no weight on the nose wheel anymore.
Everything indicates that it is not a tool they want the PNF to use to check the way the PF manipulates its sidestick. Actually Airbus thinks as absolutely useless for the PNF to know how the PF is doing its flight control commands ... In an attempt to justify the concept, the Airbus chief pilot himself has to refute the critics but his explanation simply does not make any sense. (Time 48:00 in the video)