i hate to "assume" but the airbus is an electronics heavy vehicle - one lightning strike in the right place and you could lose something critical. i know this is a risk with all aircraft, but at least with cabled controls you can still go hands on all the way down and get something out of her.
I know three "bus drivers"... all three hate the airplane and cant wait to be awarded another bid for different equipment.
one went so far as to say "you tell the airplane to turn left... the computer thinks about it for a second or two... THEN the airplane responds, its like it has to decide whether or not to allow you to turn that way, its like HAL 9000 or something... 'sorry captain, im afraid i can't do that', whereas other similar aircraft i've flown hands on are more immediate in their responsiveness."
almost an exact quote from one of them (something to that extent anyhow)
i dont pretend to know the ins and outs of the systems of the airbus, but it seems to me that if it already seems to "approve" pilot inputs and you somehow fry the right part of the computer which manages that particular operation and your just along for the ride at that point.
__________________
|