Here's a breakdown of their differing approaches:
Boeing's Design Philosophy: "Pilot is the Master" ?
Boeing's traditional design philosophy emphasizes the pilot's ultimate authority and direct control over the aircraft.
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Direct Control: Boeing aircraft generally offer more direct and traditional control inputs. Their fly-by-wire systems (which are present on newer Boeing models like the 777 and 787) are designed to mimic the feel and response of mechanically linked controls, providing tactile feedback to the pilot.
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Pilot Override: The philosophy is that a pilot should always be able to override automated systems or flight envelope protections if they deem it necessary. This means that while there are protections, a sufficiently strong and deliberate input from the pilot can often override them. The idea is to empower the pilot to make critical decisions, especially in unusual or extreme circumstances.
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Yoke/Control Column: Boeing aircraft typically use a traditional control yoke or column, which provides visual and tactile cues about the control inputs and what the other pilot is doing (as yokes are often linked).
Airbus's Design Philosophy: "Flight Envelope Protection"
Airbus's design philosophy, particularly with its fly-by-wire aircraft (like the A320, A330, A340, A380), places more emphasis on automation and "flight envelope protection".
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Computer-Mediated Control: Pilots input commands via a side-stick, and these commands are then processed by flight control computers. These computers have "laws" that determine how the aircraft responds, and they include built-in protections to prevent the aircraft from exceeding its aerodynamic limits (e.g., stalling, overspeeding, over-stressing the airframe with excessive G-forces).
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"Hard" Limits: Under "Normal Law" (the most common flight mode), the computers will prevent the pilot from making inputs that would take the aircraft outside its safe operating envelope. For example, you cannot physically pull the side-stick back hard enough to stall an Airbus in Normal Law.
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Reduced Workload: This system is designed to reduce pilot workload and prevent inadvertent errors by keeping the aircraft within safe parameters.
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Side-stick: Airbus aircraft use a side-stick, which is not mechanically linked between the two pilots. This can require more active communication between pilots to understand each other's inputs.
