A simple level turn in the A320
 

Considerations: normal aircraft - all systems working normally, aircraft clean, no extremes in weight altitude temperature.


3,000 CAVOK MSA 1 foot:)




Generally speaking a level turn in most aeroplanes requires a bank and then beyond a certain bank angle requires slight back pressure to maintain the altitude and the turn.


For this exercise everything has got an auto rudder and auto trim on everything. (just to reduce argument)


My question therefore is:


Say you take a nice A320 on manual - no a/p and you apply . . . .say 25 degrees of bank to turn - and a slight back pressure enough to maintain alt and keep the turn in balance and then let go of everything - then the A320 will maintain that attitude.


So, simple question this:


So just say we don`t know how to fly, say. And, we bank to 25 degrees only (am just pulling bank angles out of the hat) without applying back pressure - naughty.


So - am I right that the aircraft will maintain the bank angle and descend accordingly and indeed continue the . . .trend with the predictable results etc - why? Because we have set up a the aircraft to the attitude which it will maintain?

To make a level turn in an Airbus FBW aircraft you just roll on the bank, no need to apply back pressure in normal situations. The stick demands a pitch rate so stick neutral means no pitch demand and no climb or descent. The FBW system will apply enough UP elevator to prevent the aircraft descending.

Fore and aft movement of the side stick actually demands a G load and the aircraft responds with a G load/pitch rate. Reference: FCTM OP20

Thanks Dan and Max