5 ms·

How would it be reaching such a high pitch angle with two opposite inputs on the controls? Doesn't that mean one of the pilots is still trying to increase pitch

How would it be reaching such a high pitch angle with two opposite inputs on the controls? Doesn't that mean one of the pilots is still trying to increase pitch?! Also it seems crazy that a modern aircraft can have pilots silently fighting one another for controls without realizing it. If standard practice is to have only one operating the controls at any time, why not a switch that enforces input from only one set of controls?

amluto 4y ago
Or an alarm that says “hey, you’re fighting over the controls!”
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
rob74 4y ago
I guess that's because the flying pilot might become incapacitated at any time (i.e. stroke, heart attack, ...), and then the other pilot has to take over as quickly as possible, and an additional switch that they have to locate and flip would need more time than just moving the controls?
epse 4y ago
In that specific plane, both control columns are physically connected. Moving one will move the other and controlling both will make you physically fight over the controls> There is a safety feature where if you put enough force on one control column, you can break this linkage. You then have independent control, but the left column will only control the left ailerons and the right column only the right aileron. I assume the second case happened on this flight, but I cannot be sure. There is no such switch or alarm because for Boeing planes, that's how they are built. The left column connects to the left wing, the right to the right, all via cables. In order for one column to control both, there have to be cables connecting them
- nradov 4y ago
  You're thinking of older Boeing designs. The 777 is fly by wire.
  - epse 4y ago
    Woops, I am indeed, thanks for the correction
NickRandom 4y ago
That is exactly what happened to Air France flight 447 (two pilots operating controls in different directions) https://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/a3115/what-really-happened-aboard-air-france-447-6611877/ https://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/a3115/what-really-ha... (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31193445 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31193445)
mrguyorama 4y ago
Airbus planes DO have a button you can push to override and claim exclusive control through your "joystick". Otherwise, at least in normal control law I think, it averages the inputs.

amluto 4y ago

Or an alarm that says “hey, you’re fighting over the controls!”

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

rob74 4y ago

I guess that's because the flying pilot might become incapacitated at any time (i.e. stroke, heart attack, ...), and then the other pilot has to take over as quickly as possible, and an additional switch that they have to locate and flip would need more time than just moving the controls?

epse 4y ago

In that specific plane, both control columns are physically connected. Moving one will move the other and controlling both will make you physically fight over the controls> There is a safety feature where if you put enough force on one control column, you can break this linkage. You then have independent control, but the left column will only control the left ailerons and the right column only the right aileron. I assume the second case happened on this flight, but I cannot be sure. There is no such switch or alarm because for Boeing planes, that's how they are built. The left column connects to the left wing, the right to the right, all via cables. In order for one column to control both, there have to be cables connecting them

nradov 4y ago
You're thinking of older Boeing designs. The 777 is fly by wire.
- epse 4y ago
  Woops, I am indeed, thanks for the correction

NickRandom 4y ago

That is exactly what happened to Air France flight 447 (two pilots operating controls in different directions) https://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/a3115/what-really-happened-aboard-air-france-447-6611877/ https://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/a3115/what-really-ha... (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31193445 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31193445)

mrguyorama 4y ago

Airbus planes DO have a button you can push to override and claim exclusive control through your "joystick". Otherwise, at least in normal control law I think, it averages the inputs.