For Airbus pilots
 

Can you tell me what means : " fly the "bird" (velocity vector) " ?

The flight path vector (eg aircraft track, flight path up/down or level) is calculated by the IRS and can be displayed on the PFD. This symbol is known as 'the bird'. you can also project on to the PFD a radial, and an angle up or down - 'the cage'. you would normally do this on a non-precision approach using the inbound radial and 3 degree descent angle. You then manually 'fly the bird' - the aircraft's calculated track - in to 'the cage' - the required track and angle of descent. It works very well.

...once you get used to it.

Funny enough, in our company we are not encouraged to use this function in manual flight. Seems it is considered "too complex" for us dumb "bus" drivers...

Radar Contact said,

"Funny enough, in our company we are not encouraged to use this function in manual flight. Seems it is considered "too complex" for us dumb "bus" drivers..."

Do you mean manual flight using the "bird and cage" (FD's on) as you put it ? Sure, if that's the case it can load up the PNF on a non-precision approach if you keep calling for adjustments to follow "into the cage". If however it's with flight directors off and just the bird, I'd say it's a positive safety enhancement. It tells you what the aircraft is doing relative to terra firma which is very useful during a visual circuit/approach.

Put the wings of the bird on the horizon of the PFD and you flying level. Put the bird 2.5 degrees below the horizon and you're on a 2.5 degree "ILS". The bird also shows your drift/track. With the automatics, the TRK/FPA (Track/Flight Path Angle) really is the bees knees for flying accurate non-precision approaches.

A4 :)