Operational Liaison Meeting FBW aircraft - Montreal

Pitch Trim Setting

 4 Content

z Pitch Trim : On ground

z Pitch Trim : In flight
z New PITCH TRIM/MCDU/CG DISAGREE caution
z New automatic takeoff pitch trim setting
z Conclusion

Pitch Trim Setting 2

 4 Content

z Pitch Trim : On ground

z Pitch Trim : In flight
z New PITCH TRIM/MCDU/CG DISAGREE caution
z New automatic takeoff pitch trim setting
z Conclusion

Pitch Trim Setting 3

 4 Pitch Trim : On ground

z The crew has to manually select the takeoff pitch trim.

z Airbus takeoff trim setting definition is a compromise

between:
Providing consistent rotation characteristics, whatever the
aircraft CG may be,
Being close to the ideal trimmed position at V2+10 with all
engines running,
AND
Keeping it simple.

z Trim setting for takeoff only depends on the aircraft CG:

Relationship TRIM/CG indicated on the pitch trim wheel.

Pitch Trim Setting 4

 4 Pitch Trim : On ground

z However, takeoff trim setting also has to be limited

Definition of the GREEN BAND

z To define the green band, out-of-trim takeoffs have

been demonstrated :
At FWD CG with trim set in the nose-down limit of the
green band
At AFT CG with trim set in the nose-up limit of the green
band

The takeoff green band is defined to satisfy these

abuse cases

Pitch Trim Setting 5

 4 Pitch Trim : On ground

z Takeoff green band definition

Out of Trim
At FWD CG
Takeoff green band

Aircraft
Aircraft heavy
heavy
to
to rotate
rotate

Aircraft
Aircraft light
light
to
to rotate
rotate
Out of Trim
At AFT CG

FWD CG limit for T/O AFT CG limit for T/O

Pitch Trim Setting 6

 4 Pitch Trim : On ground
z Takeoff pitch trim setting :
Relationship between takeoff CG and
nose up/down THS value is given
in the QRH

Set the takeoff CG on pitch trim wheel

n o

Pitch Trim Setting 7

 4 Content

z Pitch Trim : On ground

z Pitch Trim : In flight
z New PITCH TRIM/MCDU/CG DISAGREE caution
z New automatic takeoff pitch trim setting
z Conclusion

Pitch Trim Setting 8

 4 Pitch Trim : In flight

z Automatic pitch trim in normal or alternate law with

protection calculated by the ELAC/FCPC
z The pitch trim depends on :
The aircraft CG, weight, configuration
The altitude and speed

Example for the A330-300

TRIM
SETTING

-2 -3000ft
Altitude or weight or
30 T
variation
-3
Mach variation
M : -.03

-4
220 T
Reference curve 37000ft
M.81
CG (%)
-5
22 26 30 34 38

Pitch Trim Setting 9

 4 Pitch Trim : In flight

z Consequently :
There is no unique relationship between CG and trim
position in flight : Trim may be out of the green band
z Any pilot action on the trim wheel :
Disarms the autopilot, if armed.
Adds trim order, if in manual flight.

z In case of unavailability of the automatic trim:

Autotrim unavailable : Autotrim and elevators unavailable :

The crew has to manually trim the aircraft The crew only has the pitch trim wheel
to adjust aircraft pitch

Pitch Trim Setting 10

 4 Content

z Pitch Trim : On ground

z Pitch Trim : In flight
z New PITCH TRIM/MCDU/CG DISAGREE caution
z New automatic takeoff pitch trim setting
z Conclusion

Pitch Trim Setting 11

 4 New PITCH TRIM/MCDU/CG DISAGREE caution

z New alert developed on the A340-500/600 to avoid an

erroneous trim setting before takeoff
z This caution will be activated when :
The T/O CONF test P/B is pressed or takeoff thrust is set,
and,
A discrepancy is detected between :

FWC

The theoretical trim setting The actual trim deflection

The trim setting, entered (green band), computed used by F/CTL computers
on the MCDU, by the pilot by the FWC
Pitch Trim Setting 12
 4 New PITCH TRIM/MCDU/CG DISAGREE caution

z Computations
TRIM_MCDU

FWC
FMS

Theoretical
THS setting :
TRIM_MCDU
THS from
Load & Trim Sheet
entered by the crew
Pitch Trim Setting 13
 4 New PITCH TRIM/MCDU/CG DISAGREE caution

z Computations
TRIM_CG

FWC
Aircraft
FCMC
CG
THS = f(CG)

Computed
THS setting :
TRIM_CG

Pitch Trim Setting 14

 4 New PITCH TRIM/MCDU/CG DISAGREE caution

z Computations
ACTUAL_TRIM

Actual FWC
Pitch Trim FCDC

Actual
Trim setting :
ACTUAL_TRIM

Pitch Trim Setting 15

 4 New PITCH TRIM/MCDU/CG DISAGREE caution

z Logic description
T/O CONF test P/B pressed:

TRIM_MCDU TRIM_CG ACTUAL_TRIM

Comparison :
TRIM_MCDU - TRIM_CG
TRIM_MCDU - ACTUAL_TRIM
TRIM_CG - ACTUAL_TRIM

One value differs from One value differs from

the other two by < +/-1.5 the other two by > +/-1.5

NO CAUTION CAUTION :
PITCH TRIM/MCDU/CG DISAGREE
Pitch Trim Setting 16
 4 New PITCH TRIM/MCDU/CG DISAGREE caution

z This new logic covers the following type of errors:

Comparison TRIM_MCDU - TRIM_CG

MCDU trim setting typo
Fuel distribution different from the load & trim sheet

Comparison TRIM_MCDU - ACTUAL_TRIM

Trim setting omission

Comparison TRIM_CG - ACTUAL_TRIM

Same as above
Consolidate the caution if one information is missing

z This logic assumes that the ZFCG entered in the MCDU

is correct
Pitch Trim Setting 17
 4 New PITCH TRIM/MCDU/CG DISAGREE caution

z Degraded case :
One value is unavailable:

Example T/O CONF test P/B pressed :

TRIM_MCDU TRIM_CG ACTUAL_TRIM

Comparison :
TRIM_CG - ACTUAL_TRIM

One value differs from the other One value differs from the other
by < +/-1.5 by > +/-1.5

NO CAUTION CAUTION : PITCH TRIM/MCDU/CG DISAGREE

Two or three values are unavailable:

PITCH TRIM/MCDU/CG DISAGREE alert is inhibited
Pitch Trim Setting 18
 4 New PITCH TRIM/MCDU/CG DISAGREE caution

z Remark: PITCH TRIM/MCDU/CG DISAGREE alert is

inhibited when ACTUAL_TRIM is outside the authorized
limits, i.e. not in the green band.
PITCH TRIM NOT IN TO RANGE warning is then activated

z New computers needed:

New FWC - to be able to perform the comparison and
activate this new caution
New FMS - to send the MCDU THS setting entry to the
FWC

Pitch Trim Setting 19

 4 Content

z Pitch Trim : On ground

z Pitch Trim : In flight
z New PITCH TRIM/MCDU/CG DISAGREE caution
z New automatic takeoff pitch trim setting
z Conclusion

Pitch Trim Setting 20

 4 New automatic takeoff pitch trim setting

z New logic developed on the A340-500/600 to activate

an automatic pitch trim setting before takeoff
Based on FCMC CG computation
Could be overridden by pilot input
z Logic description
When the three hydraulic systems are available:

Aircraft
FCMC FCPC
CG

Pitch Trim Setting 21

 4 New automatic takeoff pitch trim setting

z Logic description (Contd)

If the pilot has not entered the ZFCG when hydraulic

systems are available :
No automatic pitch trim activation

If the pilot changes the CG after the automatic pitch trim

setting :
No automatic pitch trim reactivation. New pitch trim
has to be set manually

Monitoring via the PITCH TRIM/MCDU/CG DISAGREE

ECAM caution remains available

Pitch Trim Setting 22

 4 New automatic takeoff pitch trim setting
z Automatic pitch trim setting also developed for
touch-and-go

Provide an automatic takeoff trim setting in case of a touch-

and-go
As on other fly-by-wire aircraft, automatic trim setting reset
is activated at landing, when :
Both MLGs are compressed + 1 second, and
The ground spoilers are not extended

If a touch-and-go is initiated (Vc > 80 knots and ground

spoilers not extended)
Pitch trim is automatically set to the takeoff position
according to the green band law ( from Cg recorded at 100 ft,
before the flare)

Pitch Trim Setting 23

 4 Content

z Pitch Trim : On ground

z Pitch Trim : In flight
z New PITCH TRIM/MCDU/CG DISAGREE caution
z New automatic takeoff pitch trim setting
z Conclusion

Pitch Trim Setting 24

 4 Conclusion

z On ground :
Takeoff pitch trim only depends on aircraft CG
Pilot pitch trim setting must be in the green band
Pilot action is required
z In flight :
Pitch trim depends on several parameters
May be out of the green band
No pilot action is required

z For the A340-600/500, improvements to :

Avoid erroneous takeoff pitch trim setting, with the PITCH
TRIM/MCDU/CG DISAGREE ECAM caution
Decrease pilot workload with the automatic takeoff /
touch-and-go pitch trim setting
Pitch Trim Setting 25