Hi IF Community, I have just had the most bizarre experience on an Airbus A380 flight from Osaka to Bangkok. I’m unsure if this was a fault with the autopilot or if it’s an Airbus A380 problem, since they are very old aircraft. I had filed my flight plan correctly, making use of the SIDS and STARS on this route. Towards the end of the flight my aircraft began descending perfectly and all was going exceptionally well, until I was reaching my final 5,000 feet waypoint using VNAV. Before my VNAV had even had the chance to reach the 5,000 feet mark my aircraft had already descended lower than the desired altitude. I changed the VS as 5,000 feet was already inputted to the autopilot while I initiated a missed approach due to these technical difficulties. I still could not identify what this problem was at all. My aircraft was still descending at this point and my speed was getting slower. Changing the VS and altitude on the autopilot had no affect on this situation whatsoever and it seemed as if I had no control of this plane. I ended the flight before I became a dilemma for ATC. If anyone could identity my problem please reply.
Your speed is incredibly slow for that plane it might have had trouble staying at that altitude, this would then make the nose pitch up and eventually fall out the sky as there is not enough speed to maintain.
At 140kts you should really be Flaps FULL in the A380 and depending on your weight it probably caused you to stall.
@Captain_Cign @BennyBoy_Alpha I think I can recall assigning the final speed of the A380 to 140 knots on final. Looking back I realised I may have not done this properly or not assigned it at all to the autopilot by mistake. Looking at the attached image it clearly shows 140 knots was on the altitude but not assigned. I think what I’ve done is changed the speed and forgot to assign it. Lessons can be learned from this :/
Good thing you have figured out what is likely the culprit in this scenario and I’m glad that you are taking it in your stride and not moaning about it.
Thanks for your help :) I appreciate it
A good pilot is always learning ;)
That is CORRECT! Thank you.
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