Sidestick Controllers A320 The first officer indicated that he was in no doubt that the captain was taking control of the aircraft. He relaxed his grip on the right sidestick, but did not remove his hand. He stated that he was not aware of making any subsequent intentional control inputs through his sidestick. However, the DFDR readout indicated that neutral and nose-down inputs were made for some 12 s. The inputs from the first officer's side stick did not detract from the captain being able to achieve the desired aircraft attitude.
The two sidesticks of the A320 are essentially independent insofar as the pilots are concerned, in contrast to the 'traditional' system in which the two control colimns in the cockpit are mechanically interconnected. In other words, while the A320's computer systems co-ordinate the inputs from both sidesticks and base the control response on the algebraic sum of the inputs, there is no linkage between the two with regard to control feel. As a result, the inputs being made by each pilot on his sidestick cannot be sensed through his sidestick by the other. Had there been such a sense of movement between the two sidestick controllers, the co-pilot could have sensed the captain's input as he initiated the go-around, and released any pressure on his sidestick.
The A320 design makes provision for either pilot to take full control with his sidestick, e.g. in the event that one pilot should become incapacitated. To assume priority for his sidestick, i.e. to direct the computers to ignore inputs from the other sidestick, the pilot who wishes to assume priority must activate the 'instinctive autopilot disconnect button', more commonly referred to as the 'take-over button'. As soon as this button is activated, control authority is immediately transferred to that sidestick. However, the button has to be held down continuously for 30 s before control priority is permanently reallocated to that sidestick. Activation of the take-over button on a go-around was not part of Ansett Australia's standard operational procedures. Ansett Australia's procedures for activation of the take-over button (viz. to do so when it is believed that the response from the side stick is not normal), follow the recommendations and standard operating procedures laid down in the aircraft manufacturer's manual. As the aircraft was achieving the attitude required by the captain, he saw no requirement to activate the button.
A320 Crew As part of Ansett Australia Airlines' procedures for one pilot to take control of an aircraft from the other pilot, the pilot taking control is required to say 'taking over' or 'I've got it'. This procedure is designed to ensure that the pilot relinquishing control of the aircraft does so in a timely and positive manner. In this incident the captain of the A320 said 'Going around' and not 'Taking over', or 'I've got it'.
While the first officer reported that he was not aware of any delay or confusion in the hand-over/take-over process resulting from the captain's use of non-standard terminology, it is possible that the sequence was imperceptibly delayed for a short period of time.
Although the A320 successfully avoided the DC-10, under different circumstances the cross controlling between the two pilots (see para. 1.18.2) could have jeopardised a safe go-around.
The DFDR readout indicated that as the A320 commenced its go-around, both crew members were manipulating their sidestick controllers. Approximately 12 s of dual control inputs were recorded. The captain was making pitch-up inputs while the FO was alternating between neutral and pitch-down inputs. However, the FO stated that he was not consciously aware of having made any control inputs following the captain's call of `Going Around'. As described earlier, the aircraft's computer systems based the control response on the algebraic sum of the two sidestick inputs, as neither had priority.
It is evident that crew co-ordination broke down somewhat as the go-around was initiated, because the company standard hand-over/tak-over procedure was not employed. This may have contributed to the short period of control inputs from both pilots. This simultaneous input situation would almost certainly have been immediately apparent, and corrected rapidly had there been a sense of movement between the two sidesticks.
Whilst the engines were accelerating, the captain applied sufficient back stick to keep the aircraft in the air. He was concerned about the aircraft's performance, particularly during the time required for the engines to accelerate as he judiciously managed the aircraft energy balance, gaining altitude whilst minimising the reduction in aircraft performance. As engine pwer increased, the aircraft nose attitude was adjusted to ensure that the A320 tail would not strike the ground and to ensure that the two aircraft would not collide. The characteristics of the A320 and the crew behaviour described in the preceding paragraphs highlight the need to address cockpit resource management procedures, communication and design issues in the operation of such advanced technology aircraft. US studies, for example, have suggested that the 'traditional' CRM training may not be appropriate to the demands of the new generation of highly computerised and automated 'glass cockpit' aircraft.
August 1991 A320/DC-10 Incident at Sydney