DAVID LEARMOUNT / LONDON
Networked systems have the potential to give pilots unprecedented interaction
Airbus has revealed a preliminary mock-up of its A380 flightdeck, designed in co-operation with pilots from customer airlines, says the manufacturer. It is intended to feel familiar to pilots of existing Airbus fly-by-wire types, but contains many new or upgraded features.
The A380 will be the first Airbus to have a completely integrated avionics system, says the company, with modular avionics networked through a server that also links them with the flight management system (FMS).
There will be eight liquid crystal displays (LCD) on the main panel and forward centre pedestal, all rectangular rather than square. The extra panel height enables a graphic illustration of the vertical flight trajectory relative to the terrain profile to be included at the base of each navigation display (ND). The same display will show the vertical profile of weather radar returns.
The LCDs are all interactive, except each pilot's primary flight display (PFD). Manipulation of the ND, for example, can change the flight profile. The ND will display a moving map of the airport layout when the aircraft is on the ground.
Each pilot has access to the onboard information system or electronic flight-bag via a keyboard on each pilot's pull-out table. Using this, the crew can enter data, enabling the central computer to calculate the take-off or landing performance figures. Checklists can be called up on the electronic centralised aircraft monitor (ECAM) and items change colour as actions are completed.
Despite its new network architecture and capabilities, the A380 display and controls layout is as close to the standard Airbus cockpit as possible, enabling an A340 pilot to complete the A380 conversion course "in seven to eight days' training", says the company. Each pilot's electronic flight instrument system, consisting of the PFD and ND are positioned as normal, as is the ECAM.
Either side of the power levers are the pilots' keyboard cursor control units (KCCU), each with a multi-function display (MFD). The KCCU/MFD is comparable with the multifunction control and display units on existing aircraft, which are the primary interfaces with the FMS. The palm-rest of each KCCU incorporates a cursor control mouse. Airbus cautions that the final cockpit may contain changes.
Source: Flight International
