6
$\begingroup$

Green protection symbols (=) are displayed for many protections on Airbus aircraft, such as for bank, pitch, and high speed protection. However, there is no such symbol for high AOA protection. Rather, there are amber and red strips. Why does only this protection use a different symbol, and moreover, why isn't the same concept applied to high speed protection (no protection symbol), when both change significantly with attitude, configuration, and more? In short, why isn't VαMax marked with a protection symbol?

High speed protection: High speed protection is marked by a protection symbol and changes depending on many factors

High AOA protection: High AOA protection is marked by amber and red strips and also changes depending on many factors

$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ My guess is that because the value where the protection symbol should go isn't normally shown. You can trigger alpha-limit at (almost) any airspeed if combined with just the right pitch command. $\endgroup$
    – Jan Hudec
    Sep 25, 2022 at 20:25

1 Answer 1

3
$\begingroup$

High-speed protection is a fixed speed (for example 330kt/M.86 plus 4 knots for A330).

Low-speed protection, on the other hand, is highly dependant on the G-load. If you fly manually and give a pitch input, the yellow/black tape (where the top marks V_ALPHA_PROT) and the red/black tape (where the top marks V_ALPHA_MAX) go up or down. The yellow line (V_LS) stays the same, as that speed varies with altitude and gross weight, not with G-load. This effect is even more pronounced at high altitude.

Therefore, a green mark would give the false impression of a fixed speed, as all the other single markings on the speed tape are fixed speeds (like green dot, S, F, V1, VR).

$\endgroup$

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .