Originally Posted by
Kimon
Following the IT148 crash, the display windows were widened to include extra digits IIRC.
Almost - the relevant display was given different multi-segment components to display a small "00" when in V/S mode.
This is where Boeing has an edge as all relevant display windows are totally physically separate.
Boeing and Airbus bought the autoflight interface components from the same supplier - Honeywell. The change (or similar changes in multi-function windows) was applied across all affected types, including some from both manufacturers - e.g. the 757 and 767 had a shared annunciator window for V/S and FPA mode.
Regarding flight laws (which are a distinct concept from AP/FD/ATHR), they are grouped into three - Normal, Alternate and Direct. Alternate has distinct sub-categories depending on the failure that caused it to activate - but in real terms all the pilot has to keep in mind above Direct is that only Normal Law has hard protections and autotrim is active in Alternate.
Turning the autoflight off renders the alphabet soup you refer to moot (just as it does in all modern airliners).