Who’s on first, What’s on second,
During cruise, the captain’s flight management and guidance computer (FMGC1) failed. Due to the failure, the flight crew elected to use the first officer’s duplicate systems.
During the approach, the flight crew made a number of flight mode changes and autopilot selections, normal for an ILS approach with all aircraft operating systems available. However, some of those flight modes and autopilot selections relied on data from the failed FMGC1 and the auto-thrust system commanded increased engine thrust.
Maybe I’m just getting old and grumpy – but it seems ‘passing strange’ to me that no one dragged out the books and checklist for the approach using FMGC 2. There must be a ‘set up’ guide somewhere in the ‘manual’. Plenty of time in the cruise to have a Bo-Peep at the checklist and a discussion. Seems odd that neither crew member remembered there was a configuration set up for using #2 system and it was different. Two aborted approaches, the second needed the ATCO to warn ‘below minimum safe’.
Two major anomalies, potentially lethal, totally avoidable. You have to start wondering how well these crews are trained and question the almost total reliance on automation. Perhaps the new guru can explain that away when one of these flights ploughs through a DFO or lobs on a freeway – near you. Not good is it.
Toot toot.
During cruise, the captain’s flight management and guidance computer (FMGC1) failed. Due to the failure, the flight crew elected to use the first officer’s duplicate systems.
During the approach, the flight crew made a number of flight mode changes and autopilot selections, normal for an ILS approach with all aircraft operating systems available. However, some of those flight modes and autopilot selections relied on data from the failed FMGC1 and the auto-thrust system commanded increased engine thrust.
Maybe I’m just getting old and grumpy – but it seems ‘passing strange’ to me that no one dragged out the books and checklist for the approach using FMGC 2. There must be a ‘set up’ guide somewhere in the ‘manual’. Plenty of time in the cruise to have a Bo-Peep at the checklist and a discussion. Seems odd that neither crew member remembered there was a configuration set up for using #2 system and it was different. Two aborted approaches, the second needed the ATCO to warn ‘below minimum safe’.
Two major anomalies, potentially lethal, totally avoidable. You have to start wondering how well these crews are trained and question the almost total reliance on automation. Perhaps the new guru can explain that away when one of these flights ploughs through a DFO or lobs on a freeway – near you. Not good is it.
Toot toot.