Aer Lingus A320 incident - AAIU report out
 

Interesting report. "F/O expressed disbelief that this had occurred"

http://www.aaiu.ie/sites/default/fil...202014-003.pdf

'Three' and 'two' in RT clearances are big 'Gotchas!'

Interesting that there's no reference in the report to the controller at Swanwick being able to see the (incorrect) selected FL on his/her screen.

What's he reading back an expectation for?

Not being a bus guy, I can't help but feel the FCU here is too clever by half. I like the nice big ALT HOLD button on my Boeing MCP, which would have been a far better solution to this issue.

As he was in Open Descent and only 500' above the assigned altitude V/S 0 would not have leveled off at 340. It would have overshot because of the flight control laws. It's not the first time cc have been injured because of an abrupt pull up. I did get a bit of a chuckle at the IICs name!

I suspect the laws of physics might have something to do with it too! Nevertheless, that's what the report recommends as the preferred action (a minor and easily-corrected level bust being preferable to injured CC).

I'm sure Mr. Judge has heard it all before... ;)

The problem is Dozy a level bust will get you stood down which is why the pilots probably reacted the way they did. An overspeed with both pilots applying a sidestick input will achieve the same result in terms of CC injury.

What is interesting is this is a classic HF incident. The PM reads back the correct assigned level but then hears the PF say "FL 240 blue" and acknowledges that as "240 checked" The PM then plays it all back in his mind until he realises there is something not quite right. The PF has only heard "FL240" in all the transmissions and readbacks. If there not been any discussion about FL200 by LIPGO by either the crew or ATC it possibly would not have happened.

I've always found 'push to level off' will level off in about 10% of whatever your rate of climb or descent is.

Our A330's have an "ALT" button too.

Selecting VS 0 causes the nose to adjust slowly
Selecting ALT causes the nose to adjust a lot quicker..:ok:

I am aware that pushing the VS knob will level the aircraft off, but the Brand B ALT HOLD button is big, obvious and intuitive. The aircraft will hold the altitude it was pressed at, and yes, it will overshoot and correct as per the laws of physics as Doze says, but the whole thing smacks of over smart engineering.