A320 Flap indications on the ECAM
 

Hi folks.

I hope you can settle an argument that we were having in the office this week:
In your A320, once you've got the engines started and are setting up for takeoff, when you move the flap lever from 0 to 1 or 2, do the flap indications start to move pretty much immediately, or do the slat indications start to move first and then the flaps move afterwards.

Also, I'd be interested to know if it's different between the CRT and the LCD versions

Thanks for your help.

Aidey

In the air, the slats will aways extend first and retract last. On the ground, I don't know if it's different, I've never noticed. This is because it's part of the PNF's post start scan. I move the lever and immediately after that, I'm doing other things - so I'm not watching the upper ECAM display. But I will look for you next time I fly and report back.

There are differences in the presentation of the CRT and LCD displays, but I suspect that there is no difference oin the flap sequence as the display should be a instantaneous indication of control surface position.

They start moving together but the slats move into postion much quicker

Both Dan and divine are right. There is a slight delay between the slats and flaps moving, but it isn't much.

In the air its slightly different because when you select config 1 you only get the slats moving one stage and the flaps stay where they are. Only when your on the ground and you select config 1 will the flaps move, and that will give you Config 1+F (hence the F for flap).

Dan's also right about the displays, although they look slightly different they show the same movement and it is an instantaneous indication of their position.

Thanks for your help folks, that's just I needed.

I hope I can return the favour some time.

Aidey

Of course the slats extend first in the air. By moving the flap lever to 1 in the extend sequence, you get Flap1, not Flap 1+F which is what you would get if selected on the ground. Silly me.

Dan,

True, except of course if you're going from a higher flap setting to Flap 1 in the air, in which case you'll get 1+F, flaps and slats at position 1, as happens during flap retraction in a go-around.

Hi SID, I think I mentioned extend, which means from 0 to 1. Slats only.

And as for the ground selection, I can confirm that the Slats lead the Flaps in this situation as well. On selection of 1+F on the ground, the flaps don't move until the slats are about 3/4 extended.

Hi Dan

thanks for checking - all info gratefully received.

Aidey