Sidestick position
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,247
Likes: 203
From: Here and there
Most of us learned to fly on trainers with left hand on the yoke and right hand on the throttle. Some of us flew gliders with right hand on the stick and left hand on the spoilers. Some of us flew aerobatic machines with right hand on the stick and left hand on the throttle. Some of us spent time as a CPL flying single pilot with left on yoke and right on throttles. Some of us became FOs and flew for a period with right hand on the yoke and left hand on the power levers. I don't understand why people think there'd be a problem changing, you've probably changed at least once before in your career.
Joined: Apr 2003
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 492
From: Europe
It is not as simple as 'we all flew Cessna's from the left'.
Whereas with conventional collumns your whole arm is involved in steering, with the Airbus sidestick it's only the wrist that moves the stick. This requires very delicate input and it all comes down to fine muscle movements in your wrist, without the stabilizing guidance of the rest of your arm. This can be quite challenging if you are not used to use your left hand for delicate matters (like writing!)... initially there is no finesse whatsoever.
About twenty flights before you start greasing again.
Whereas with conventional collumns your whole arm is involved in steering, with the Airbus sidestick it's only the wrist that moves the stick. This requires very delicate input and it all comes down to fine muscle movements in your wrist, without the stabilizing guidance of the rest of your arm. This can be quite challenging if you are not used to use your left hand for delicate matters (like writing!)... initially there is no finesse whatsoever.
About twenty flights before you start greasing again.
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Rural Virginia
A new 'Bus driver may be surprised at first try, whichever side you're seated on.
The sidestick not like a video game stick that one can mash from side to side with abandon, rather it has built in movement dampers which give it a firm but forgiving feedback in all directions. But, the further you push it the firmer the response, i.e., "lock-to-lock" travel is not instantaneous. The grip is similar to a pistol grip, very comfortable and natural feeling.
Cheers, y'all.
The sidestick not like a video game stick that one can mash from side to side with abandon, rather it has built in movement dampers which give it a firm but forgiving feedback in all directions. But, the further you push it the firmer the response, i.e., "lock-to-lock" travel is not instantaneous. The grip is similar to a pistol grip, very comfortable and natural feeling.
Cheers, y'all.
Last edited by Mudfoot; 31st July 2009 at 16:49. Reason: clarity
