Good day fellow A320 pilots,

I have my type rating only for a short while, during training we did early stabilized approaches for NPA’s. Hence I would be level at the FDP altitude configure then at 1NM from FDP I’d set the FPA required and at 0.3NM from the FDP I’d pull FPA.

My airline recommends we do CDFA and decelerated approaches. So I usually descend in vertical speed to the FAP then for an ILS or fully managed NPA with FINAL APPROACH I’d arm the approach mode when cleared. However with a NAV FPA approach descending with vertical speed to FDP at what distance would I turn FPV on and select the FPA for the approach.

Regards

So let’s say the FAF is at 11NM from threshold, could I only select TRK-FPA ON at 10.5NM or by 11NM I need TRK-FPA ON. Thanks for the thread reply!

If you’re planning doing a fully managed approach, you would not need to set from v/s to fpa, there is no need, just arm the approach.

From what I understand what my airline wants is that we fly a constant descend to FAF from TOC using V/S to control our descent rate and never leveling off. Then a decelerated approach (so no level flight a couple of miles before). If I’m descending in V/S and press the FPV won’t the aircraft revert to a equivalent FPA of my current V/S? In that case would I still turn on the FPV 1 mile before then at 0.3 id just turn the FPA knob?

The question I made was based on flying an LNAV in NAV/FPA. For example in case of temperature corrections I wouldn’t be able to arm approach mode and fly a VNAV below the chart compensated temperature.

There is absolutely no requirement from Airbus to fly an early stabilized approach for those approaches. It's only recommendation :)

You can change the reference to FPA any time, even at 10000 or higher. My personal technique for the profile they demand is in the previous message. What is also perfectly doable, is to keep V/S even a little longer, past the FAF. No benefit at all in doing so but no harm done either.

I should know better than to argue about this one on the internet, but here goes:

You want to fly a temperature corrected NPA in NAV-FPA. The FDP is at 2000’ (2100’ temp corrected) at 4.7NM from threshold. Elevation 900’ . You are at 15NM at 5760’ descending -400fpm.

Please explain to me how you can intercept and maintain the 3.1 deg path without ever leveling off,while decelerating and configuring at the same time.

you said Fully Managed Approach

Exactly, in this case you don’t have a correct V/DEV to guide you since you are doing temperature corrections and I find it impossible to intercept the path perfectly while descending, decelerating and configuring at the same time.

second in the FCOM it talked about the 75ft on the V/DEV if you are below you have to go around. For LNAV I can’t find any vertical limits. So is it again 75ft(3/4 dot) or something else?

It is! It’s quasi-impossible. The only time this might work is if you have ridiculous long final, (imagine +7000’ platform) and comming in high above the glidepath. Come in V/S all the way to the FDP aiming to get there way above platform. Switch FPA and keep going at 4-5 deg with your PM reading intermediate alts, until you are getting closer. Meanwhile configure and decelerate, though the 4deg will not help there, so you are probably speed brakes out by this point, maybe you even disconected A/P to get full speebrakes. When 200’ above select 3.2 etc (or ask PM to keep setting FPA as you disconnected AP) until you intercept. If you ever intercept. Could it be done? Well, maybe. But should this be the SOP? It looks sloppy, unprofessional and it’s unsafe. Better not do this with me unless you buy me a large drink after the flight.

How much more elegant would it be to level off 1 NM before the FDP, calmly call “ALT” ask for flaps 3 and select TRK/FPA and -3.1deg. Then when PM says “descent point” pull the FPA and ask for full flaps(or slightly before). Already on profile.

Which pilot would you like to fly with?