A330 Vfe CONF 2

[alatriste]

Hello everybody.

Checking Speed limitation for CONF2 on A330 FCOM.

Speed limit for CONF 2 is 196 KIAS BUT Vfe on Speed tape is 205 KIAS.

This "discrepancy" confuses me a bit.

Setting lever position to 2 on APP at little less than 205 KIAS will deploy S to 20º and F to 8º. ( barber pole on speed tape), no overspeed.
When speed drops below 196 KIAS, without lever movement, F extends to 14º. Please correct me if I´m wrong.

As far as I know according SOPs max speed for requesting F2 is 196 kIAS then, why two amber bars at Vfe are not displayed at speed tape at 196?

When rushing on aproach it is easy to request F2 too early.

[Rubber Dog]

Fairly straight forward and you pretty much answered it yourself. The following txt is from FCOM DSC 27/30/10 but think of it as working in the extension sense and not busting the speed limit

FLAP LOAD RELIEF SYSTEM (FLRS)
Applicable to: A330-243
Only available in CONF 2, 3, or FULL. When activated, the system retracts the flaps to the deflection
corresponding to the next retracted lever position.
Auto retraction of the flaps only occurs in case of VFE exceedance (VFE +2.5kt).
If speed is reduced below VFE (VFE -2.5kt), flaps return to their normal (selected) position.
In CONF 2, auto retraction results in CONF 1* (20° slats/8° flaps).
In CONF 3, auto retraction results in CONF 2* (23° slats/14° flaps).
These configurations can be obtained only by FLRS activation.
Note: 1. When FLAPS 1 is selected, VFE of CONF 1 or CONF 1 + F is displayed, depending on the
actual configuration. In approach, VFE next is 205kt (VFE of CONF 1*).
2. When FLAPS 2 is selected in approach, VFE of CONF 2 or CONF 1* is displayed,
depending on the FLRS activation.

Also the two different Flap positions (Slat is the same) for the Lever in position 2 is...

Lever position 2, Slats 20, Flaps 8 For the Vfe of 205kts. It corresponds to Config1* as it is called.
Or once below the appropriate speed of 196 kts then Slats 20, Flaps 14

So after all that, Yes you can select two when you are below the amber dashes. The system will only put out the appropriate amount of surface for the appropriate speed. The full amount of that selection will come out below the 196. Some people I fly with are very reluctant to select Flap 2 at the higher end as it is a bit too close for comfort for them. They view it as doing something a bit untoward and using the system to protect you. I don't see it that way at all. I see it as different stages of the same thing. I can live with whatever others prefer. I hope all this make sense?

Just noticed you mentioned SOP. Some companies may dictate differences. It is acceptable to us to select below the amber dashes ie Vfe next.

[Microburst2002]

I think SOP dictates you to select next flap step at VFEnext, but in that case, the PFD VFEnext is not the real one. The real one is 196 kt, so IMHO you should wait until 196 kt or lower to select flaps 2.

FLRS is probably there for abnormal operation.

[DutchOne]

After reading this thread I took the liberty to pay more attention to it the next flight. Just to share with you. This was the sequence.


Clean Config ---- VFe 240 (= for F1)
Selecting F1 ---- slats only extend ----- VFe 215 (= for F1+F)
Selecting F2 ---- initially the slats extend to 2 + VFe is 205 (= for F2* = Slats 2 but flaps still as 1+F) speed is in the meanwhile decreasing and flaps are extending. Once flaps passes position 1 the speed is below 196 and VFe becomes 196 (= for F2). Now flaps continue to position 2.
If the speed does not decrease. The FLRS will prevent the flaps to retract to position 2 and the VFe will remain on 205.


Hope it helps.