More bad news for Airbus: Yemeni plane crashes with 154 aboard

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by sdeason1

okay so the question is was it plane failure or pilot error?
from what i understand is that airbus uses a stick ala the old days, sopwith camels, while boeing uses a yoke for steering more like a car steering wheel.

any flyers out here?

From what I'm told: Of course both use autopilot, but Airbuses rely waaaaay too much on autopilot and the flight computer, and in fact will not allow a pilot to override it in many cases; Boeing takes a different philosophy and allows pilot judgment to override flight computer or fly the plane without the computer. I've been told that if the flight computer goes out on an Airbus, the plane is toast as the pilot can't fly the plane without it. It's called "Fly by wire," though I don't know what that means exactly.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

It's called "Fly by wire," though I don't know what that means exactly.

Essentially it means that there is no physical connection between the cockpit and the control surfaces. Old fashion systems have cables that run to the control surfaces from the cockpit. In Fly By Wire, you pull on the stick and it goes into a computer. The computer decides what you want to do and manipulates the proper control surfaces. I know alot of pilots hate it. They feel that it takes the pilot out of the decision loop.

[sdeason1]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

From what I'm told: Of course both use autopilot, but Airbuses rely waaaaay too much on autopilot and the flight computer, and in fact will not allow a pilot to override it in many cases; Boeing takes a different philosophy and allows pilot judgment to override flight computer or fly the plane without the computer. I've been told that if the flight computer goes out on an Airbus, the plane is toast as the pilot can't fly the plane without it. It's called "Fly by wire," though I don't know what that means exactly.

fly by wire is hands on. but you have a great point. with the size of the aircraft today techo is super important as compared to the old stick and rudder peddels. so basically it ain't going to happen and crash is the only option. if the auto pilot goes out, they can still fly the aircraft. if the hydralics are lost, then there is a major situation and crash. glide paths on planes this size anymore are like stones. i some times wonder if we have not gone to far to build bigger which is not always better. one of the best planes is the boeing 737. one of the best was the lockheed-L1011 that i flew to europe/california and was told this by a pilot so there must be some truth there.