Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 Flight Crew Techniques Manual (FCTM) Normal Procedures

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering normal operating procedures, flight techniques, performance computations, and system operations from the Korean Air A318/A319/A320/A321 Flight Crew Techniques Manual (FCTM).

Eye-Position Indicator

An alignment indicator located on the centre windscreen post consisting of two balls; when superimposed, they indicate that the pilot's eyes are in the correct position to optimize the visual segment and ensure a $20^\bullet$ cockpit cut-off angle.

Oversteering Technique

A taxi technique where the pilot steers the nosewheel outside the taxiway centerline curve to accommodate the main landing gear tracking inside the turn radius, particularly important on the A321 where the main landing gear is $20\,\text{m}$ behind the pilot.

Complete IRS Alignment

An alignment procedure where the IR mode selectors remain OFF for more than $5\,\text{s}$ before being switched to NAV, enabling the IRS to determine aircraft attitude, true heading, and current latitude using gravity and the Earth's rotation.

Fast IRS Alignment

A realignment procedure where the IR mode selectors are switched to OFF and then returned to NAV within $5\,\text{s}$, which resets ground speed and internal filters to $0$ without re-estimating aircraft latitude.

Keep-Out-Zone (EEC)

An approximate engine stabilization range between $60\,\%$ and $74\,\%\text{ N1}$ that the Electronic Engine Control (EEC) computer prevents the engine from holding in order to protect against fan flutter.

Automatic Retraction System (ARS)

A flap protection system active in CONF $1+\text{F}$ that automatically retracts flaps to $0^\circ$ when indicated airspeed reaches $210\,\text{kt}$, changing the displayed $V_{\text{FE}}$ from $V_{\text{FE}}\text{ CONF } 1+\text{F}$ to $V_{\text{FE}}\text{ CONF } 1$.

Alpha Lock Function

A protection function that prevents slat retraction at high angle of attack (AOA) or low speed when the flap lever is moved from Flaps 1 to Flaps 0, pulsing "A LOCK" on the E/WD until both AOA and speed return to normal limits.

Noise Abatement Departure Procedure 1 (NADP 1)

An operational climb procedure designed to reduce noise close to the airport by maintaining takeoff flaps and climbing at $V_2 + 10\,\text{kt}$ to $V_2 + 20\,\text{kt}$ up to $3\,000\,\text{ft}$, with engine power reduction initiated at or above $800\,\text{ft}$.

Noise Abatement Departure Procedure 2 (NADP 2)

An operational climb procedure designed to reduce noise distant from the airport by initiating acceleration toward Green Dot speed at or above $800\,\text{ft}$, retracting flaps/slats on schedule, and reducing thrust at thrust reduction altitude during or after flap retraction.

Cost Index (CI)

A strategic flight parameter that balances time-related costs against fuel-related costs, where $\text{CI}=0$ corresponds to maximum range and $\text{CI}=999$ corresponds to minimum flight time.

REC MAX FL

The recommended maximum flight level displayed on the MCDU PROG page, reflecting present engine and aerodynamic performance with a $0.3\,\text{g}$ buffet margin regardless of cost.

OPT FL

The cruise flight level displayed on the MCDU PROG page that delivers the lowest overall trip cost when flying the ECON Mach profile based on planned flight parameters.

Step Climb

An en-route technique of climbing to higher cruise flight levels as aircraft gross weight decreases from fuel burn, following the upward trend of the optimum flight level (OPT FL) to minimize trip fuel burn.

Fuel Freeze

The formation of wax crystals suspended within fuel occurring when fuel temperature falls below its freeze point ($-47\,^\circ\text{C}$ for Jet A-1), which can accumulate and impede proper fuel feed to the engines.

Runway Condition Assessment Matrix (RCAM)

A standardized matrix used to identify the appropriate Braking Performance Level (from Level 6 - Dry down to Level 1 - Poor) and maximum allowable crosswinds based on surface contaminant type, depth, temperature, and pilot braking reports.

Actual Landing Distance (ALD)

The distance demonstrated during flight test certification from crossing the runway threshold at $50\,\text{ft}$ until full-stop of the aircraft on a dry runway using maximum manual braking without reverse thrust credit.

Required Landing Distance (RLD)

The regulatory factored landing distance used at dispatch, calculated as $\text{RLD}_{\text{dry}} = \text{ALD} \times 1.67$ for dry runways and $\text{RLD}_{\text{wet}} = \text{RLD}_{\text{dry}} \times 1.15 = \text{ALD} \times 1.92$ for wet runways.

Top of Descent (TOD)

The navigation point calculated backwards by the FMGS from a position $1\,000\,\text{ft}$ on the final approach at $V_{\text{APP}}$, initiating an idle thrust descent segment followed by subsequent geometric segments.

Decelerated Approach

An approach profile where the aircraft crosses the Final Descent Point (FDP) in CONF 1 at S speed and continues decelerating on the descent profile to reach final landing configuration at $V_{\text{APP}}$ by $1\,000\,\text{ft}$ AAL; preferred for vertically managed approaches.

Early Stabilized Approach

An approach technique where the aircraft is fully configured for landing at $V_{\text{APP}}$ prior to reaching the Final Descent Point (FDP); recommended for non-precision approaches flown using selected vertical guidance (LOC FPA, NAV FPA, TRK FPA).

FMS Landing System (FLS)

An FMGS capability that constructs a virtual approach beam consisting of an anchor point, course, and slope from the navigation database, providing ILS-like lateral (F-LOC) and vertical (F-G/S) deviations displayed as double diamonds.

Decision Height (DH)

A wheel height reference based on Radio Altimeter (RA) by which a go-around must be initiated unless required visual references are established and aircraft position is satisfactory to continue landing.

Alert Height (AH)

A height above the runway ($100\,\text{ft}$ on single-aisle Airbus aircraft) based on fail-operational autoland system characteristics; any failure affecting fail-operational redundancy occurring below AH is ignored and landing continued unless an AUTOLAND warning triggers.

CAT 3 SINGLE

An FMA approach capability indicating fail-passive airborne systems, meaning a single failure causes autopilot disconnection without significant flight path deviation, requiring manual flight takeover with a minimum DH of $50\,\text{ft}$.

CAT 3 DUAL

An FMA approach capability indicating fail-operational airborne systems, allowing automatic landing to be completed by the remaining system after a single failure below AH, permitting operations with or without DH.

Discontinued Approach

An operational technique used to safely abort an approach at or above the FCU selected altitude by pressing the APPR or LOC pushbuttons to disengage approach modes without advancing thrust levers to the TOGA detent.

Partial Lift Dumping

An automated ground spoiler function that partially deploys spoilers upon touchdown of at least one main landing gear when at least one thrust lever is selected in reverse, weight-bearing the gear on the runway prior to full spoiler deployment.

Anti-Skid System

A closed-loop braking control system that modulates brake pressure to each wheel to maintain optimal friction force near a $12\,\%$ slip ratio, maximizing deceleration up to $10\,\text{kt/s}$ while preserving tire cornering forces.

Soft Go-Around (GA SOFT)

A procedure where thrust levers are moved momentarily to TOGA to engage SRS and GA phase, and then retarded to the FLX/MCT detent, displaying MAN GA SOFT on the FMA and targeting a reduced climb rate of approximately $2\,300\,\text{ft/min}$.

Circling Approach

The visual phase of an instrument approach that brings an aircraft into position for landing on a runway not aligned for a straight-in landing, flown at F speed in CONF 3 with gear down within the designated protected obstacle area.

Equi-Time Point (ETP)

A navigational position at which an aircraft requires equal flight time to fly to either of two designated diversion airports, entered in the Secondary Flight Plan (SEC F-PLN) as a Place/Distance (PD) waypoint.