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The Airbus A320 has an autothrust system which is unique among transport aircraft in not having feedback movement provided to the pilots' thrust levers. There has been some controversy in the airline world over the operational aspects of this system. As British Airways was one of the earliest operators of the type, a survey was conducted to determine the views of line pilots as to the advantages and disadvantages of the system compared with conventional moving levers. This paper contains the results of that survey. It was concluded that the A320 design provides advantages in respect to engagement and selection of rated power settings, and that movement provides better disengagement and information on system function. BA concludes that from a Flight Operations perspective a future system should consider providing movement between the idle and climb power positions, whilst retaining the A320 thrust setting and engagement “detents” technique.

This paper evaluates the advanced avionic systems of the Airbus A320, including the application of fly-by-wire, and puts them in context with those of the Boeing 757. The practical problems encountered in line flying are solved slightly differently by each major manufacturer, and it is only by direct comparison that the best solutions can sometimes be identified. Many early reservations expressed by pilot associations about features of the A320 have proved groundless, but there is still room for improvement, and cross-fertilization of ideas can only be of benefit to future designs.