Nay, nay, my friend. The Airbus most assuredly is *** NOT *** a killer
airplane, But like any airplane, it is unforgiving of carelessness,
ignorance or neglect!! The Airbus pilots who landed in the woods over in
France a while back FORGOT that alpha-floor doesn't work below 100 ft AGL
- otherwise, how could land the airplane? Other accidents have similar
lapses of situational awareness and aircraft limitations.
If you may remember about 30+ years ago, the Boeing 727 suffered a series
of landing accidents that were attributed to some DC-6/DC-7 Captains
trying to make idle thrust approaches and landings with flaps at 30 or 40
degrees. If you've ever flown a Boeing 727, you'd know that you'd only
try that once - if you were lucky enough to survive. At the time, many
armchair experts severly criticized the 727 as a dangerous airplane that
demanded flying skills beyond what the average pilot possessed. Not so!!
The Boeing 727 can by safely flown by any pilot with a modicum of flying
skills if he knows and understands what he's doing. Boeing didn't get to
be the world's leader in air transport sales by building airplanes that
only supermen could safely fly!!
Just as with the Boeing 727 many years ago, the flight techniques were
vastly different then for the transition pilots of the 1960s; they are
still different for many pilots today coming to the Airbus from Boeing,
Douglas and Lockheed airplanes. I can say that as an Airbus A320 Captain
and Check Airman for 3 years, the A320 most assuredly is NOT a killer
airplane. But it does put a premium on learning those specifics of the
airplane's design pholosophy and operating characteristics that ARE
different from previous airplanes I've flown. I found Airbus A320 school
to be the most difficult I ever undertook, but it was also the most
professionally satisfying thing I've done in my airline career. The
airplane is a magnet for jumpseat riders; nobody leaves my cockpit
without a mini-course in "Airbus-ology." And everyone who leaves departs
with his eyes as big as pizzas and his aeronautical horizon vastly
expanded at what a terrific airplane the Airbus is, how easy it is to
fly, and what great capabilities it has.
For example, the Airbus A320 has a digital fly-by-wire flight control
system that utilizes Normal Flight Control Law, Alternate Law with Speed
Stability, Alternate Law without Speed Stability, Direct Law, Mechanical
Law, and Unusual Attitude Law. The Airbus A320 also is cerified
single-engine, single-autopilot, CAT IIIa (700 ft RVR) autoland, although
our Company OpSpecs don't permit an autoland in those circumstances.
Nevetheless, the airplane HAS the capability. Stick that in your 727!
(That's not intended to bad-mouth the 727, just to highlight the progress
of 30+ years of technology!)
Steve, I know you were exaggerating about the Airbus being a killer
airplane; but I had to jump in an defend my machine. If you're ever
flying the Friendly Skies on a 'Bus, stop by ther cockpit and I'll give
you the Royal Your. You'll be amazed!!
Best regards,
George Bleyle
The Airbus Driver