Once a pilot - now a computer's sidekick

[Trent 972]

AIRBUS Golden Rule 6 (250kb)

When things don’t go as expected, Take over If the aircraft does not follow the desired vertical flight path / lateral flight path or the selected targets, and time does not permit analyzing and solving the observed behavior, revert without delay from:
• FMS guidance to selected guidance;
or from,
• Selected guidance to hand flying.

Rule 7

Use the correct level of automation for the task On highly automated and integrated aircraft, several levels of automation are available to perform a given task:
• FMS modes and guidance; or,
• Selected modes and guidance.
The correct level of automation depends on:
• The task to be performed:
− short-term (tactical) task; or,
− long-term (strategic) task;
• The flight phase:
− departure, enroute, terminal area or approach-and-landing; and,
• The time available:
− normal selection or entry; or,
− last-minute change.
The correct level of automation often is the one the pilot feels the most comfortable with, depending on his/her knowledge and experience of the aircraft and systems, skills and confidence.
Reversion to hand-flying and manual thrust-control may be the "correct level of automation", for the prevailing conditions.

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