A320-Q2-WingTipBrake.

[George Yogi]

Came across "wingtipbrake" in AB320 activated incase of assymetrical flap extension,symmetrical runaway,over speed,un-commanded movement.The question is if an unintentional over speed with flap extended happens will the Pilots have to return and land the AB inorder to reset the wingtipbrake which cannot be reset in Flight ?

[George Yogi]

Thank you John.
Does the speed of extension and retraction of flaps do really bother the flight performance ? , I assume we do not retract or extend flaps in commercial aircraft very close to the ground and I am troubled by the fact Aircraft has to return and land when an 'over speed' in the flat/slat mechanism exist ( Stuck flaps , Assymetry and uncommanded flap/slat are understandable.)

[Tinwacker]

Wing tip brakes

I am troubled by the fact Aircraft has to return and land when an 'over speed' in the flat/slat mechanism exist

Goerge, why the troubled mind???

The overspeed could be due to a torgue shaft failure from a drive unit/motor. One flap side moves more that the other creating an assymetric situation. The wing tip brakes then lock the flaps at that given position.
The reset is carried out on the ground because the inspections for the flaps and possible failed units can only be checked on the ground.
Better to have the flaps stuck and safely return to an airfield than to have an 'inflight reset' cause even more catastrophic damage.