A350 issues discovered

[cellomike]

Hi everyone,

Sharing some issues I’ve discovered on the A350:

1. Unable to scroll down on a SID/STAR selection menu.

2. Reverse logic when inputting an average wind component. The user places -XX for tailwind and +XX for headwind in the simulation.

3. SPD SEL XXX not displayed on FMA row 2 when preselect is programmed and takeoff thrust is applied.

4. Auto emergency descent - no automatic countdown. 

5. Auto emergency descent - heading mode should engage on a parallel track after offsetting 3 miles to the right. (It engages on a divergent heading and maintains this in the inibuilds)

6. Fix page has limited radius range input. I haven’t tried the maximum IRL but I have gotten this to display 1000++ miles around a fix.

7. Offset only works on the “to” waypoint, and cannot be done from the current position.

8. No “5” feet callout present. 

9. The CRS IN logic for the dir radial in is reversed on the automatic display. It display radial in values by default.

10. No cyan speed bug displayed when preselecting a speed on FCU on managed speed.

 

11. ALTN F-PLN has no origin airport

 

I also have some personal observations:

1. Roll rate is dampened - it feels like there is a delay in roll response. The roll response feels closer to some level D simulators of A330’s I’ve used in the past. The real A350 feels snappy to the touch.

2. Pitch input on takeoff requires an additional pull to reach 15 degrees. Otherwise it will level, or even just pitch down to 10 degrees with constant input applied.

(UPDATE: with this, I have also noticed that the plane tends to pitch up slightly on its own by the time I reach VR. So this may be a result of that.

2. Startup sound is a little too loud. 

3. Touchdown sounds could be a little louder m.

4. The real A350 tends to be a bit of a “floater” below 10 feet. In fact, it’s barely a couple of nudges on the stick on a round out and the last part of the flare. 

It’s a little disparity I’ve noticed between the level D sims and the real airplane where the level D tends to sink to the ground faster.

 

I do appreciate that this must be a difficult airliner to model! I’m hoping some of my suggestions can help improve this wonderful product.

 

Cheers,

Mike

 

 

Edited March 3 by cellomike
Additional issues

[nopixar]

For 1. Using the down arrow on the MFD keypad allows you to go through the list. 

[Kirkus]

51 minutes ago, cellomike said:

1. Unable to scroll down on a SID/STAR selection menu.

Use the mouse wheel on the wheel G

[cellomike]

Thank you @Kirkusand @nopixar!

This at least is a good work around for the issue. Hopefully inibuilds allows the scrolling down using the mouse on the MFD in future updates. 🙂

[richboy2307]

Hi @cellomike

8 hours ago, cellomike said:

I do appreciate that this must be a difficult airliner to model! I’m hoping some of my suggestions can help improve this wonderful product.

 

1. As others have already replied, use the KCCU arrows or your physical mouse's scrollwheel over the KCCU scrollwheel to navigate dropdown lists. This is by design.

2,3,4,5,6,8,10,11  Thanks reported.

7. reported that P.POS option should be conditional, i.e. possible only if aircraft is already on an offset segment at the time. Otherwise default START WPT is current TO waypoint.

9. Can you please clarify what you mean by this one? Preferably provide some screenshots/reference for current vs expected behaviour.

As for your personal observations regarding handling, I've shared internally for further review.

Thanks for your report!

[cellomike]

Hi @richboy2307!

 

Thank you for your quick reply!

with regard to 7. offset behavior, I’ve attached a video showing that after inserting a Direct to waypoint, it won’t start the offset until the TO waypoint.

In the second attached video, it shows the proper offset behavior but only after passing a waypoint on the F-PLN page. 

I’m pretty sure I’ve done plenty of offsets  IRL after a direct routing.

regarding 9. I’m attaching a video where you can see the CRS in figure is not showing the final approach course. (UPDATE: Let me double check the logic in the real thing tonight!)

Also, in the process of testing, I found the following:

 

1.deleting SPD LIM created a discontinuity. Also showing in a video.

2. No blue track line when FD off, bird on, and A track is selected

Have you guys gotten feedback that Airbus recently changed their checklist structure? 

These are the videos:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZXke89RWganTjwvswHpVDV9u-SmZvTcp

regards,

mike

Edited March 4 by cellomike

[cellomike]

Hello all!

Been testing v1.02 and reporting some findings here:

 

1. Ground - loud rumble sound on taxi and continues even after aircraft is stopped. The only way to remove it is by going to external view and returning to cockpit view.

 

2. F-PLN - airways page input:

- When using the airways page to input individual waypoints (inputting only in the “to” fields on the right),  the MFD “accepts” the non-existent waypoints. When inserting the temporary F-PLN, they do not appear in the F-PLN page. 

Real life behavior should redirect it to the Pilot Waypoint page. 

I’ve noticed that the logic is followed however when using the “insert next waypoint” feature on the F-PLN page.

3. Step Alts feature

- unable to input Step alts unless Fuel & Load page is complete.

4. F-PLN revisions 

- When a flight plan revision is made enroute, the temporary flight plan displayed shows the full original flight plan as if at the origin. However, Inserting removes the “old” waypoints.

5.  F-PLN activate ALTN

- when activating the alternate, the arrival runways displayed are still for the original destination. My temporary workaround is to use “new destination” instead so the proper runways are displayed.

6. Speed preselect display logic

v1.02 now displayed preselected speed on the FMA, but not on setting FLX or TOGA. It is displayed when the FMA commands a thrust reduction to Climb thrust. 
 

7. Landing gear sound on extension

This is just a suggestion. IRL there is a slight delay (maybe a second ) between lowering the LG lever and the sound of gear coming down. 

In the simulation it is almost instant.

i will continue to post findings as i keep testing the airplane.

Hoping this helps!

Mike
 

 

 

[haza2]

2 hours ago, cellomike said:

Hello all!

Been testing v1.02 and reporting some findings here:

 

1. Ground - loud rumble sound on taxi and continues even after aircraft is stopped. The only way to remove it is by going to external view and returning to cockpit view.

 

2. F-PLN - airways page input:

- When using the airways page to input individual waypoints (inputting only in the “to” fields on the right),  the MFD “accepts” the non-existent waypoints. When inserting the temporary F-PLN, they do not appear in the F-PLN page. 

Real life behavior should redirect it to the Pilot Waypoint page. 

I’ve noticed that the logic is followed however when using the “insert next waypoint” feature on the F-PLN page.

3. Step Alts feature

- unable to input Step alts unless Fuel & Load page is complete.

4. F-PLN revisions 

- When a flight plan revision is made enroute, the temporary flight plan displayed shows the full original flight plan as if at the origin. However, Inserting removes the “old” waypoints.

5.  F-PLN activate ALTN

- when activating the alternate, the arrival runways displayed are still for the original destination. My temporary workaround is to use “new destination” instead so the proper runways are displayed.

6. Speed preselect display logic

v1.02 now displayed preselected speed on the FMA, but not on setting FLX or TOGA. It is displayed when the FMA commands a thrust reduction to Climb thrust. 
 

7. Landing gear sound on extension

This is just a suggestion. IRL there is a slight delay (maybe a second ) between lowering the LG lever and the sound of gear coming down. 

In the simulation it is almost instant.

i will continue to post findings as i keep testing the airplane.

Hoping this helps!

Mike
 

 

 

 

Will send back to the team. Kindest.