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Overview

The purpose of this


avionics smoke
presentation is two-fold:
The ECAM Avionics
Smoke procedure is not
intuitive
The ECAM action steps
alter many aircraft
systems.
This lecture provides a
general explanation of the
abnormal procedure. It is
intended to minimize
possible confusion should
this occur during your
Airbus career.
Introduction


The AVIONICS SMOKE
ECAM message is
triggered if smoke is
detected by the smoke
detector located within the
avionics ventilation
system.
If smoke is detected
Avionics
Equipment
Smoke
Detector
Single Chime
Indications


the ECAM displays
the ECAM Avionics
Smoke message and
action steps.
The ELEC page is
displayed because the
action steps lead the
pilot into the
emergency electrical
configuration.
The ECAM begins a
five minute countdown.
Well discuss the
countdown later.
Indications

Indications on the
overhead panel
include:

The SMOKE light in
the GEN 1 LINE pb.

The FAULT light in the
BLOWER and
EXTRACT pbs.
ECAM PROCEDURE
Considerations before
executing the AVIONICS
SMOKE ECAM procedure
include:

The Operators
Abnormal/Emergency
procedures.

If the source and severity
of the smoke dictate
continuation of the ECAM
procedure, the flight crew
manually places the
aircraft in the emergency
electrical configuration.

The ECAM procedure
contains two conditional
(IF) statements to preclude
the manual application of
the emergency electrical
configuration.

We call these conditional
statements Critical
Decision Point 1 and 2.
Brief
Each
Other
Review STATUS
Page
Refer to QRH
and/or
FCOM VOL-3
Execute
ECAM Actions
Abnormal/Emergency
Responsibilities


In the avionics smoke
scenario, the captain may
want to assume the PF
responsibilities due to the
possibility of the aircraft
entering the emergency
electrical configuration.

In the emergency
electrical configuration,
the first officers display
units are unpowered.
Communicate
Navigation
Request Configuration
Changes as Appropriate
FLY THE AIRCRAFT!
Command
ECAM Actions
PM
PF
Abnormal and/or Emergency Occurs
Cancel & Identify
Flight Path Established
Above 400 ft AGL
I have control
and ATC. Execute
ECAM Actions.
PM
PF
I HAVE
CONTROL AND
ATC.
EXECUTE
ECAM ACTIONS
AVIONICS
SMOKE
Single Chime
Abnormal and/or Emergency Occurs
Cancel & Identify
Flight Path Established
Above 400 ft AGL
Pilot Responsibilities


ECAM Execution

The AVIONICS SMOKE
ECAM procedure begins
with the conditional
statement
IF PERCEPTIBLE
SMOKE:
Anytime white letters are
displayed on the ECAM, it
is asking the flight crew to
make a decision.
The blue action steps
following the white
conditional statements are
only required if the
conditional statement is
true.
IF PERCEPTIBLE
SMOKE: is our Critical
Decision Point 1.
ECAM Execution
If smoke is not perceived
(sight or smell) avionics
smoke may not actually
exist.
If that is the case, DO
NOT proceed with the
ECAM.
Continue to search for
signs of avionics smoke
and clear the ECAM, but
stay vigilant for signs of
smoke.
If the message reappears,
take appropriate action
based on whether or not
smoke is perceived.
In flight fires are extremely
dangerous. If the fire is
determined to be real, start
action to get on the ground
first and ask questions
second.
ECAM Execution

If any crew member
perceives smoke,
proceed with the
ECAM.

ECAM Execution

The first action step is for
all cockpit crewmembers
to don oxygen masks.


Select 100%

If needed, push or rotate
red emergency flow knob
to clear mask of smoke.

Will the mask fit over eye
glasses?
Communications

Suggested ACP
configuration with captain
as PF and oxygen masks
on:
Captain
ATC Communications -
Push to talk on VHF1
Crew Communications
Hot mic only when needed
PA Communications
Push and hold down PA
button
FO
Crew communications
Push to talk on INT
PA Communications
Push and hold down PA
button
Both pilots should refrain
from hot mics with oxygen
masks on.
ECAM Execution

Notice that the ECAM
does not recognize that
you have your masks on;
therefore, the step remains
displayed.

DO NOT use the CLR key
in an effort to remove this
step. It will clear all of the
AVIONICS SMOKE steps
that are currently
displayed.
Simply skip over the step
and proceed to the next
one.
F23087p
F23087p
ECAM Execution

The next action step is to
select the cabin fans off.
ECAM Execution

This step is taken in order
to prevent (or limit) smoke
from entering the cockpit
and cabin.
ECAM Execution

Notice that the
CAB FANS..OFF action
step is no longer displayed
and subsequent action
steps have moved up.
The next two action steps
are BLOWER.....OVRD
and EXTRACT..OVRD.
ECAM Execution

Selecting the BLOWER
and EXTRACT pbs to
OVRD commands the
AEVC to place the
avionics ventilation system
in the smoke configuration.
Small
Internal
Flap
Open
Avionics
Smoke
Configuration
Skin Heat
Exchanger
Valve
Closed
Air Cond
Inlet Valve
Open
OVRD OVRD
OVRD OVRD
The avionics ventilation
system is now in the
smoke configuration.
Several things have
occurred:
Air conditioned air is
provided to the avionics
ventilation system.
The skin / heat exchange
isolation valves close.
The blower fan is turned
off.
A small flap on the
extract valve opens.
The extract fan continues
to run to draw air from the
avionics ventilation system
and exhaust it overboard
through the small flap on
the extract valve.
ECAM Execution
ECAM Execution

After the BLOWER and
EXTRACT pbs are selected
to OVRD, the action steps
disappear and the 5 minute
countdown moves up.
The 5 minute countdown,
now at 3 minutes and 57
seconds, started when the
message was originally
displayed.
It is provided to give the
smoke configuration time to
remove the smoke.
This is Critical Decision
Point 2.

3
3
3
3
ECAM Execution

During the countdown, the
crew should consider all of
the following:
Smoke/Fire severity
Approach preparation
The QRH Avionics Smoke
procedure

3
3
Smoke/Fire Severity

If the severity of the
smoke/fire dictate an
immediate de-powering of
the aircraft, the flight crew
should continue with the
ECAM and disregard the
countdown.
In other words, you do not
have to wait for the
countdown to elapse to
zero before proceeding with
the ECAM.

3
3
Approach Preparation
If the decision is made to
wait and see during the
countdown, the crew may
use the time programming
the aircraft for approach
and landing.

3
3
QRH Avionics Smoke
Procedure

Additionally, the crew may
consult the QRH Avionics
Smoke procedure for
additional information
during the countdown (if the
decision was made to wait
and see).
The QRH provides
additional steps and
considerations for isolating
the faulty equipment and
smoke removal procedures.




If the smoke has
dissipated and is no longer
perceptible during the
countdown, leave the
BLOWER and EXTRACT
pbs in the OVRD position.
The reconfiguration of the
avionics ventilation system
has forced the smoke
overboard and it is no
longer impacting crew and
passengers.
However, the source of the
smoke still exists and
LAND ASAP still applies.
Remember, you
commenced the ECAM
procedure because smoke
was perceptible.
ECAM Execution




Continuing with the ECAM
procedure will attempt to
eliminate the source of the
smoke by manually
entering the EMER ELEC
CONFIG.

Remember, you DO NOT
have to wait for the
countdown to reach 0?
ECAM Execution



The countdown is
removed after reaching 0.
Other action steps below it
move up.
EMER ELEC GEN1 LIN
OFF is now the next action
step.

ECAM Execution



Selecting the GEN 1 LINE
pb OFF, isolates GEN 1
from the electrical system.
F23087p F23087p
ECAM Execution


GEN 1 still powers a fuel
pump in each wing. This is
the cause of the 3% draw
indicated on the ELEC
page.

Notice GEN 2
automatically powers the
electrical system.

Is there a difference
between these overhead
generator pbs?

ECAM Execution



EMER ELEC PWR ...MAN
ON action step has now
moved up and is the next
step to be completed.

Once this step is
completed you will see the
ELEC page change again.

ECAM Execution


By performing the
EMER ELEC PWR ...MAN
ON action step, the wind
driven Ram Air Turbine
(RAT) extends and
provides BLUE hydraulic
pressure which powers the
Emergency Generator
(EMER GEN).

We will see how this
changes the ELEC page.

Is there a difference
between the RAT pbs?
ECAM Execution


The E/WD indicates the
RAT has been deployed
(RAT OUT) and the
emergency generator is
functional (EMER GEN).
The ELEC page depicts
the EMER GEN is
powering the AC ESS bus
and DC ESS bus through
the ESS TR.
The Rats Nest is a term
referring to the EMER
GEN, ESS TR, DC ESS
and AC ESS indications
on the ELEC page.
At this point all steps on
the electrical system are
powered except for the
items in the galley that
have been automatically
shed.
ECAM Execution



Another condition
statement has moved up.
WHEN EMER GEN AVAIL:
is mandating that the flight
crew determine the
availability of the EMER
GEN.

The RAT OUT, EMER
GEN, and Rats Nest
provide positive
indications that the
emergency generator is
available.
ECAM Execution



After the EMER GEN is
available, the ECAM
procedure directs the pilot
to select GEN 2 off.

This is the BIG action
step! Before performing
this action step, there are
a few things to consider.

Emergency electrical
power

Autopilot

Autothrust

Flight control degradation

Display unit failures

And

ECAM Execution



Lighting (cabin and
cockpit)
Consider briefing the lead
FA and/or making a short
PA announcement about
the change in lighting that
is about to occur.
Namely, the emergency
overhead lighting will
replace the normal lighting
and the exit signs will
illuminate.
ECAM Execution
Right Hand (FOs)
Dome Light



Also consider the flight
deck lighting that will
remain when GEN 2 is
turned off.
One source of light you
will have will be the FOs
dome light. The switch for
the dome lights must be in
a position other than OFF
for the FOs dome light to
be on.
F23087p F23087p
ECAM Execution
Left Set (Capts)
flood lights



Another source of light you
will have will be the
Captains set of flood lights
activated by the FLOOD
LT switch.
The switch for the flood
lights must be in a position
other than OFF for the
lights to be on.
F23087p F23087p
ECAM Execution



After considering the
effects, select GEN 2 off.
ECAM Execution
X
X
X


Notice that once GEN
2 goes offline the only
display units left are
the captains PFD, ND
and the E/WD.
ECAM Execution
Notice the ECAM
message has changed to
EMERG CONFIG! And
the loss of the lower DU.
Where did AVIONICS
SMOKE go?
The action steps that were
taken up to this point have
shut down approximately
75 % of the electrically
powered components on
the aircraft and put the
aircraft in the ELEC EMER
CONFIG.
The aircraft can achieve
this configuration
automatically when there
are electrical system
malfunctions but in this
case we have achieved it
manually in order to
eliminate the source of
smoke that caused the
AVIONICS SMOKE
situation.
ECAM Execution



The first action step is MIN
RAT SPEED..140 KT.
140KTS is the minimum
speed that guarantees to
keep the RAT blades
spinning.
This action step will not go
away automatically. You
must skip over it.
ECAM Execution



The next action step is
VHF1/ATC1.USE. What
this means is that VHF1 is
the only radio left and
ATC1 means that only
transponder 1 remains.
This action step will not go
away because the system
is not monitoring when
these steps are used.
You must skip over this
action step to the next
one.
ECAM Execution

The next action step is
LDG ELEV.MAN
ADJUST.
This action step indirectly
reminds the flight crew that
the aircraft reverts to
battery power after gear
extension. On battery
power, the remaining
FMGC (1) will be lost.
If this occurs, the
pressurization system will
lose its landing field data.
Therefore, the pilot needs
to manually supply landing
field elevation to the
pressurization computer
(CPC 1).

To accomplish manual
landing elevation, use the
LDG ELEV selector knob.
ECAM Execution
Note: Currently, A320 Series aircraft do not
revert to battery power after gear extension in
the Electrical Emergency configuration.
Therefore, this step does not display on the
ECAM since FMGC 1 remains powered until
after landing.


Due to the loss of the
lower DU, setting a
precise landing elevation
with the LDG ELEV
selector requires the pilot
to push and hold the
PRESS pb on the ECAM
control panel.

The PRESS page will be
displayed on the upper DU
as long as the pb is held
down.
Are you in manual
pressurization?

NO!! Only landing
elevation is manually
selected. Still automatic
pressurization through
CPC system 1.
ECAM Execution
The LDG ELEV.MAN
ADJUST action step has
cleared and another
conditional statement is
displayed.
BEFORE L/G
EXTENSION: and its
action steps remind the
flight crew the emergency
electrical configuration
was self induced. If
desired, the flight crew
may restore power by
selecting GEN 2 ON.
As a reminder, the
conditional statement and
action steps are also
displayed on the STATUS
page.
Well assume power
restoration is not desired.
Therefore, all blue action
steps for the EMER
CONFIG procedure are
completed. Time for the
CLR pb!!

ECAM Execution



Now the AVIONICS
SMOKE title is displayed
again.
All blue action steps have
been completed so push
the CLR pb again.
ECAM Execution



The GEN 2 OFF was
triggered after manually
selecting GEN 2 off during
the AVIONICS SMOKE
procedure.
No blue action steps so
push the CLR pb again.

ECAM Execution



PRED W/S DET FAULT
(predictive windshear) has
failed because of a
combination of offline
systems. We can clear this
step as well.
ECAM Execution



The flight controls have
degraded to alternate
law due to multiple
ADIRUs (2 and 3)
being unpowered.
Clear again!




ECAM Execution



The ECAM is now lights
out.

There are no system
pages to clear through
since the ECAM is in
single DU operation. In
other words, the STATUS
page will not display
automatically after the last
clear.
The flight crew needs to
manually display the
STATUS page by pushing
and holding the STS pb on
the ECAM control panel.
This will make the status
page replace the E/WD.


ECAM Execution



We can see that the 140
KT min RAT speed is
repeated and that a MAX
SPEED of 320 KT is a
new step that is listed.


ECAM Execution



MAX BRK PR ..1000PSI
is listed because the ANTI
SKID system is on the list
of INOP SYS.


ECAM Execution



FUEL GRAVTY FEED
AVOID NEGATIVE G
FACTOR is listed because
the aircraft thinks it is in
the EMER ELEC CONFIG
because of electrical
system failures.
In truth, we manually
entered this configuration
so we still have a fuel
pump operating in each
wing when we normally
would not in this
configuration.

ECAM Execution
APPR PROC: GEN 2 ..ON
and EMER ELEC GEN 1
LINE ON are not mandatory.
It is simply an option for you
to exercise if you determine
that it is appropriate.
We have hopefully
eliminated the source of the
smoke at this point but
fumes may still linger. If the
smoke was very bad and
getting worse before we
entered the EMER ELEC
CONFIG these actions
would not be a good idea.
Note Some things to
consider before performing
these action steps:
The severity of the smoke
IMC or VMC
Day or night
Weather
Approach type

ECAM Execution



APPR PROC: FOR
LDG.USE FLAP 3 is to
have a higher approach
speed for more control
since the landing will be in
direct law.
AT 1000FT AGL: L/G
DN is due to fact that
when the gear is lowered
the aircraft will transition
from alternate law to direct
law.

ECAM Execution



You will learn more about
these step further down
the road in your training.

ECAM Execution



This is the beginning of the
list of precautionary
statements.
The green down arrow
signifies more information
exists further down the
status page.


ECAM Execution



This is the list of
inoperative system related
to the failures you have
encountered.
To see steps further down
the status page you must
release the STS button
and then push it again.


ECAM Execution



More precautionary
statements are now
displayed yet a green
down arrow still exits. This
signifies that there are
more inoperative systems
to view.
Again, the STS button
must be released and then
pushed again.


ECAM Execution



Now that we have seen all
the information available
on the status page; it is
time to let go of the STS
button and go back to a
lights out ECAM.
Once the ECAM is
complete, time permitting,
the QRH Electrical
Emergency Configuration
summary should be
consulted.


ECAM Execution
Do you realize smoke in
the cockpit or cabin may
occur without generating
an ECAM message.
Where is the crew
expected to go for an
abnormal without an
ECAM message?

QRH

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