ABSTRACT
Until October 1994, Cathay Pacific Airways (CPA) in Hong Kong operated airliners manufactured in North America. Therefore the arrival of the first Airbus type in October 1994 was a significant departure from tradition. To date, CPA has introduced into service four A340–200, seven A340–300, eleven A330–200, and four B777–200 aircraft in 40 months. Automation is usually designed to enhance efficiency. Designing an aircraft with the objective of the highest levels of efficiency can mean that differences in operational techniques are inevitable. Between aircraft manufacturers, there are bound to be different design approaches. This chapter concentrates on those of Airbus Industrie fly-by-wire design, due to the experience of the author on these types. Strong regulatory structures were designed in order to ensure safety for the public in what was at that time a total revolution in transport. Developed from the nautical regulations of the day, regulatory structures evolved into complex and sophisticated aviation laws, which drove safety standards ever higher.
