"John R Weiss" wrote in message news:7lM%b.72046$4o.90913@attbi_s52...
From what you say here, it does not appear autothrottle was engaged (which also
correlates with other descriptions I've read) -- apparently, the pilot manually
moved the throttles from idle to Max. Is this true?

Is Alpha-Max the stall AOA, or something less? Is there any "emergency
override" that will engage the autothrottle when approaching Alpha-Max?

Alpha-Floor protection is the automatic override. Autothrust does not
need to be on, only available. Autothrust could have been active or
not - it does not matter. However, Alpha-Floor is not available once
the aircraft descends below 100' as I stated before, regardless of A/T
status. The crew expected it, but it was not there becaue they were
too low. When he realized his error, the captain manually applied TOGA
power.

Alpha-Max is prior to stall AOA - it is the top of the L/D curve. Here
is a scenario that may help. Without touching the stick you bring the
thrust levers to idle (this disengages the autothrust BTW). The
aircraft will slow down to Vls and no more (the nose will pitch down
slightly to maintain this speed). Now, if you grab the side-stick and
pull it full aft (this will disconnect the autopilot) you will slow
further towards Alpha-Max. Depending on your rate of deceleration and
your rate of pitch (g), Alpha-floor kicks in somewhere prior to
Alpha-Max - at that moment, Autothrust is automatically re-engaged,
TOGA power is commanded (remember, your thrust levers are still at
idle) and speed will stabilize at Alpha-Max while you hold the stick
full aft. Depending on GW you may or may not be descending, but you
will not stall.

The aircraft in question never stalled - it is not possible in the
mode it was flying in (Normal Law). You CAN fly it into the ground,
but you cannot stall it. To move from Normal Law to Alternate Law (in
which the aircraft may be stalled) requires multiple failures of key
systems and/or flight control computers - none of which occured in
this case.

And, BTW: The gentleman is correct, it was a revenue flight (never
said otherwise) but it was also a pre-arranged demonstration flyby of
the new aircraft. This is why there is a very good video of the whole
event.

John A.