A320 - Flight Controls exam with complete
solutions 2024/2025
1. Normal
2. Alternate (with reduced protections or with no protections)
3. Direct
4. Abnormal attitude
5. Mechanical backup
(Vol.2 27.20.2)
What are the different flight control laws?
Stabilities are a lesser form of protection and can be overridden by the pilot.
What is the difference between protections and stabilities?
Multiple failures of redundant systems.
(except abnormal attitude)
What causes degradation from normal law?
If certain failed systems have been restored.
What causes promotion to a higher flight control law?
To keep the aircraft within the normal flight envelope.
What is the purpose of normal law?
No.
Can a single system failure degrade the aircraft from normal law?
Yes (with a triple RA for example).
Is it possible to degrade directly from normal law to direct law?
When the aircraft is in alternate law and the gear is lowered - The aircraft enters
alternate law landing mode, which is similar to direct law.
When is direct law most commonly encountered?
To provide conventional aircraft feel similar to other aircraft while on approach to land.
What is the purpose of alternate law landing mode?
, During a total electrical failure or a loss of all FCCs.
When is mechanical backup active?
A loss of all HYD systems.
When is the aircraft not controllable whatsoever?
1. The THS handwheel for pitch control,
2. The rudder for turning, and
3. The thrust levers (differential thrust may also be used to aid in turning).
What is available to control the aircraft during mechanical backup?
To provide some control to the aircraft while you restore failed systems, and a higher
law is restored.
What is the purpose of mechanical backup?
When an outside force (mountain waves, aircraft wake, etc) causes the aircraft to
exceed pitch or bank limits.
When does the aircraft enter abnormal attitude law?
1. Green = sign on the pitch, bank, and overspeed limits.
2. Alpha prot and Alpha max are displayed on the speed tape.
3. Absence of failure messages on the E/WD.
How can you tell that the aircraft is in normal law?
1. Ground
2. Flight
3. Flare
(Vol.2 27.20.1.1.1)
What are the different modes of normal law?
No, unless the bank angle exceeds 33° (auto pitch trim is limited).
In normal law, does the pilot need to pull back on the sidestick to maintain altitude in a
turn?
1. Load factor > 1.25 G.
2. High AOA protection is active.
When is auto pitch trim limited to a smaller range?
1. When bank angle exceeds 33°.
2. Load factor < 0.5 G.
3. RH < 50' (or 100' with AP on).
4. A manual trim order is entered.
5. High-speed protection is active.
6. Normal law ground mode.
solutions 2024/2025
1. Normal
2. Alternate (with reduced protections or with no protections)
3. Direct
4. Abnormal attitude
5. Mechanical backup
(Vol.2 27.20.2)
What are the different flight control laws?
Stabilities are a lesser form of protection and can be overridden by the pilot.
What is the difference between protections and stabilities?
Multiple failures of redundant systems.
(except abnormal attitude)
What causes degradation from normal law?
If certain failed systems have been restored.
What causes promotion to a higher flight control law?
To keep the aircraft within the normal flight envelope.
What is the purpose of normal law?
No.
Can a single system failure degrade the aircraft from normal law?
Yes (with a triple RA for example).
Is it possible to degrade directly from normal law to direct law?
When the aircraft is in alternate law and the gear is lowered - The aircraft enters
alternate law landing mode, which is similar to direct law.
When is direct law most commonly encountered?
To provide conventional aircraft feel similar to other aircraft while on approach to land.
What is the purpose of alternate law landing mode?
, During a total electrical failure or a loss of all FCCs.
When is mechanical backup active?
A loss of all HYD systems.
When is the aircraft not controllable whatsoever?
1. The THS handwheel for pitch control,
2. The rudder for turning, and
3. The thrust levers (differential thrust may also be used to aid in turning).
What is available to control the aircraft during mechanical backup?
To provide some control to the aircraft while you restore failed systems, and a higher
law is restored.
What is the purpose of mechanical backup?
When an outside force (mountain waves, aircraft wake, etc) causes the aircraft to
exceed pitch or bank limits.
When does the aircraft enter abnormal attitude law?
1. Green = sign on the pitch, bank, and overspeed limits.
2. Alpha prot and Alpha max are displayed on the speed tape.
3. Absence of failure messages on the E/WD.
How can you tell that the aircraft is in normal law?
1. Ground
2. Flight
3. Flare
(Vol.2 27.20.1.1.1)
What are the different modes of normal law?
No, unless the bank angle exceeds 33° (auto pitch trim is limited).
In normal law, does the pilot need to pull back on the sidestick to maintain altitude in a
turn?
1. Load factor > 1.25 G.
2. High AOA protection is active.
When is auto pitch trim limited to a smaller range?
1. When bank angle exceeds 33°.
2. Load factor < 0.5 G.
3. RH < 50' (or 100' with AP on).
4. A manual trim order is entered.
5. High-speed protection is active.
6. Normal law ground mode.
