Airbus NPA managed and discontinued approach

[sonicbum]

Dear ppruners,

a couple of questions / feedback from your operations. In the latest revision of my FCTM, in the chapter dealing with NPA managed (other than LOC, LOC B/C etc..) it is suggested to fly the procedure by keeping the FD basic modes (therefore without displaying the bird). It is suggested to use the bird only for NPA selected or Laterally managed and vertically selected. According to my operator SOPs we still do use the bird as a primary display guidance for all NPA regardless of the technique employed. What is your procedure / point of view ?
Second question about the discontinued approach technique (go around above the missed approach altitude). Has your operator established any specific procedure ?
Thank You

[vilas]

This is the latest change. Basically when vertical guidance is provided by the system the approach is flown with FDs. Only for NPAs without vertical guidance TRK/FPA is to be used. This is better because with vertical guidance you fly the approach like the ILS.
and with this some terminologies have also come like APV=approach procedure with vertical guidance, RNAV(GNSS) using LNAV/VNAV minimum, BaroVNAV Barometric Vertical Navigation:FMS computed vertical guidance based on Barometric altitude. ABAS= airborne based augmentation system(GPS+IRS).
About discontinued approach it is surprising that it has taken so many years and possibly some messed up go rounds to formalise a procedure. It is not easy to suddenly think a way out when asked to go round when clean because all missed approach training is imparted when configured for the approach. So now there is no mystery. You know what is the problem and what will happen and the course of actions.

[EDA]

Just to add to disc. app. proc, it is now in FCOM (Rev 6th March 2014), chapter: PRO-NOR-SOP-Approach-Approach General subchapter "Discontinued Approach".

Also includes a new callout (Airbus SOP) "CANCEL APPROACH".

[TyroPicard]

airbus SOP for display using KISS principles...

If you use APPR pb then use HDG/VS (ILS, Managed NPA)
If you use LOC pb or Selected guidance, use TK/FPA (anything else).

sonicbum
If it's in FCOM or FCTM with your airline logo on it then it is by definition SOP, surely.

[dream747]

The new discontinued approach procedure states that flight crew could opt for the cancel approach procedure or apply the standard go around technique if the aircraft is at or above the FCU altitude. How do you go about applying the standard go around procedure in this case? I'd expect the same FMA as the standard go around, and the aircraft will climb in SRS until we set a new altitude above the altitude which we went around from?

[vilas]

dream747
I think there is a confusion about applying standard go round procedure at or above FCU altitude.If you intercept the LOC in clean configuration at FCU altitude you cannot follow the standard GA procedure and set TOGA thrust as the SRS will not engage. It requires flap lever in at least position 1.

[sonicbum]

Thank You all for your replies and feedbacks:ok: