How the Airbus A320's Normal Law works, what the Alpha Floor does, and what Air France 447 revealed about the hidden cost of hard automation limits.
VectorThe Airbus A320's alpha floor system overrides pilot throttle inputs to prevent stalls - a 1988 design decision that still defines the debate over cockpit automation.
VectorAirbus alpha floor automatically commands maximum thrust when angle of attack approaches critical limits - and Air France 447 reveals exactly what happens when that protection boundary is crossed.
VectorHow Airbus fly-by-wire Normal Law protects against stalls and structural overloads - and what every fly-by-wire pilot must know about its limits.
VectorCategory III ILS autoland uses triple-redundant computers that vote on every control input to land commercial jets in near-zero visibility - here's how it works.
VectorAirbus Alpha Floor automatically commands maximum thrust when a critical angle of attack and low power coincide - and what that means for pilots.
VectorThe FAA has issued proposed special conditions for Skyryse's fly-by-wire retrofit of the Robinson R66, forcing a fundamental question: can pilots safely fly without mechanical feedback?
TowerAirbus's normal law system prevents pilots from exceeding flight envelope limits automatically - a proven safety advance that also fundamentally changed who has final authority over the aircraft.
VectorHow Airbus Normal Law and flight envelope protection stop an A320 from stalling - and the training trade-off that comes with it.
VectorReliable Robotics is retrofitting the Cessna 208 Caravan with fly-by-wire automation to create a remotely piloted freighter for cargo routes.
VectorRadio Hangar explores Airbus Fly-By-Wire, Flight Envelope Protection, and the Control Laws That Decide How Much the Computer Will Let You Do.
VectorThe F-35's Automated Departure Resistance System makes the jet essentially spin-proof, and the technology is trickling down to general aviation.
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