Hi DozyWannabe,
but in the second case, even with +6000fpm selected, the FDs engage with an actual VS in excess of that. In that case, would the FD have commanded nose down?
Please see page 98 of the final report.
Apart from the first 20 seconds or so when PF pulled the nose up whilst trying to keep the wings level in ALT LAW, subsequently the FDs were reasonably closely followed.
From time 02:10:50 until 02:11:40, whilst the stall warning is sounding, the FDs are commanding nose up from 7.5 degs up to 20 degs.
It would be far less confusing if the FDs had remained out of view until reselected by the pilots, or if they reappear automatically then park at zero pitch and wings level command until a pilot manually "sync"ed them to a mode they want.
If the FDs had remained locked onto ALT FL350, then they would have commanded a nose down.
I fail to see the logic of this design.