When it comes to flying an airplane, the pilot’s control over the aircraft is paramount to safety. As such, Airbus has been using a side-stick instead of a traditional yoke in their aircraft cockpits since the 1980s. Unlike the yoke found in most commercial aircraft today, Airbus’s side-stick is similar to a “joy stick” located on the left and right side of the cockpit, one for the captain and the other for the first officer.
While Airbus wasn’t the first manufacturer to introduce a side-stick for pilots, that honor belongs to General Dynamics and their F-16 fighter jets, it quickly realized the advantages it offered.
Advantages of a Side-Stick
One of the biggest advantages of the side-stick is that it provides pilots with an unobstructed view of the cockpit center console, which enhances situational awareness. Additionally, the side-stick allows pilots to have one hand free, which can be very helpful when navigating the cockpit during critical phases of flight.
Aside from these benefits, the side-stick has a number of advantages for military pilots as well. Military fixed-wing aircraft designers found that the side-stick offers more space in the cockpit, an unobstructed view of the control panel, and the ability to free up one hand, which can be incredibly helpful in high-stress situations such as aerial refueling, gun tracking, and aircraft carrier landings.
All Modern Airbus Planes Use a Side Stick
The Airbus A320, the first single-aisle aircraft produced by Airbus, became the very first commercial aircraft to use the side-stick instead of a yoke. After recognizing the advantages of the side-stick in the F-16, Airbus applied the technology to their commercial aircraft to provide pilots with a simplified and uncluttered cockpit. This not only provided a more comfortable experience for pilots but also freed up more space in the cockpit, allowing for better interaction between the pilot and the aircraft’s cockpit components.
Today, Airbus uses the side-stick in all of its aircraft, including the A330, A340, A380, A350, and even the A220. While some pilots may be used to the traditional yoke, the side-stick is now a mainstay in Airbus cockpits and is considered by many pilots to be a major advancement in flight control technology.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
