Hi
I normally just use managed speed, but when Im on the approach phase I like to manually adjust the speed dial, when I do this should I disable the auto throttle or is it called auto thrust button?
Picture below you can see I have set a speed of 146, I think that was too low by the way, I just entered what the mcdu stated, but I believe I should have added 5-10kts to that.
You leave the autothrottle engaged.
The levers must be in the climb position.
As in all airbus autopilot knob operation, just “pull” the speed knob towards you (click on the bottom) to gain manual control of the speed function and then adjust the knob for your desired speed.
Pulling towards you means you have control of that function, pushing means the automated systems have control of the function.
Ok great thanks, what would happen if I reduced the speed knob so much it went into stall, would auto throttle override my manually selected speed?
Yes, Airbus has “laws” that control protection for different phases of the flight and different conditions that can happen in those phases.
http://www.airbusdriver.net/airbus_fltlaws.htm
Thanks will have a mess around later to see how it works.
As for the landing speed in the MCDU on the performance page Landing phase it said VLS 146 If I remember correctly, I take it now that is the stall speed, I thought it was the landing speed. Should I have used this as a marker and added 5-10kts to that for landing?
VLS is actually Velocity Landing Speed, but there isn’t much difference between that and stall speed.
A landing is really a controlled stall, as to land you go slow enough to lose wing lift.
So for practical purposes VLS is the minimum you can safely fly at to maintain lift.
Maintain that speed until the “retard” call is made by the aircraft (around 20-30 feet), then reduce throttles to minimum and lift the nose a couple of degrees to flair and land.
Ah ok, at speed set at 146 in the pic above I did land ok, I read around that you should add 5kts to that speed for landing but perhaps not then.
Thanks for your help.
That may be necessary for a side wind correction, and also is good for your final approach.
I like to slow from that to VLS when I am around 1000 feet.
Will remember that, only reason I started to manually adjust speed, is that sometimes I would get the overspeed warning when lowering flaps.
I love this sim and I know Im never doing everything correctly, but like to feel like I am, and if I land safely I know I done a good job. 
Thanks again.
