Well, after nearly five years since the last one, Loveclose has flown an Airbus 320 from A to B. My goodness, I know there are issues here, but none compared to the flickering screens I experienced with XP11’s airliners - probably due to my poor graphics card, but no flickering here which means I can actually read, activate and respond to instrumentation.
My how the Airbus has changed since FSX!! I managed to get my head around most things, but have a couple of queries…
- Managed Autothrottle - I’m guessing that I engage this by hitting the Autothrottle switch and move the throttle quad to the auto detent area. I have also figured how to use the Selected autothrottle mode where I can set the speed. In Managed Autothrottle mode, how is the speed determined?
- Landing was a dream - all worked just great, until I switched off the autopilot last 500 ft. Left the throttle in the auto position, and autothrottle was still active. Nearly a perfect landing until the flare - didn’t move the throttle quadrant back so the aircraft started climbing instead of flaring. I’m guessing that as I flare, I have to move the throttle quadrant down out of the autothrottle area?
- I switched on Auto Braking thinking is would be the spoiler arm as well. No spoilers. How do I arm the spoilers for automatic deployment on touchdown? I know I can assign a switch but I’m rather enjoying using the switches in the cockpit for a more authentic feel…
Thanks in advance for any help.
I’d have to say that I still maintain there is poor tutorial in-sim coverage for jets in general compared to prob jobs…
Thank you so much - I’ll have a look at this tomorrow…
One question I forgot to ask…
Took off at full throttle, then throttled back and had no real middle range on the quadrant - (using a Saitek throttle controller). Is this due to the more modern, up-to-date throttle control as found on the Airbus itself? I’m guessing I may have to configure a specific throttle programme for the Airbus?
If you’re using the FBW 320 mod you can setup your throttle in the EFB. As for the default one I couldn’t tell. Maybe just throttle until you here a click for the detent 
Haven’t got it yet…
I found the spoiler control bottom left of the throttle panel, but these activated the spoilers whilst in flight - not for auto deployment on touchdown…am I looking in the wrong place?
Thanks for the help!
Don’t pull them down but rather up with your cursor. Then hold it and pull up beyond 0, you will hear a clicking sound. Your ECAM will say that SPLRS are armed.
Adding to @mynolix, you will also see the lever physically elevated. So it’s hard to miss.
The retard call-out is just a reminder unless you are doing an autoland where it becomes a command. If you land manually you can retard the throttle how you see fit or even disengage the auto thrust entirely.
That’s what the white collar is for on the lever. It is only visible with armed spoilers.
Especially during an autoland it’s just a reminder because thrust automatically reduces to idle.
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Oh, right. I got that mixed up with the FLARE FMA?
FLARE as well as IDLE are just for your information to keep you in the loop what the A320 is doing.
Thinking about it, that’s rather unusual for an A320 
I don’t know.
I am still not convinced the A320 retards the thrust back to idle without pilot input as you claim. But I don’t have a 100% error-proof source for that at hand.
Looking at videos doesn’t help much as you rarely see the thurst levers and the ECAM at the same time. Since the auto thrust doesn’t move the throttle in the Airbus it’s really confusing. 
A320neo AUTOLAND! Cockpit Landing in Stockholm Arlanda Airport - YouTube
This video confirms what you are saying, others seem less conclusive. I guess I’ll just shut up.
It’s clearly written how the retard mode works in every RW A320 manual and hence that thrust reduction is automatic.
The manuals are available in numerous places on the internet if you still aren’t convinced.
My own A320 experience just confirms what’s stated in the manuals.
Do you happen to have a link to one?It would be awfully nice if you could share it with us.
And I hope you don’t hold it against me for being skeptical at first. As it happens taking a few years off from civil flight simming had me forget more than I initially thought.
Have just quickly jumped in and found the ‘lift’ function on the spoiler lever - is lifting it so you can see the white band enough, or do I still have to move it fowards at all.
Think we’re getting there…
Lift = arm, don’t move the lever any further.
Here you are. A320 Autoflight (smartcockpit.com)
Btw, all autoland systems perform an automatic flare and thrust reduction, otherwise it wouldn’t be an autoland system.
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