What is the correct method to disconnect the A/THR?

What is the correct method to disconnect the A/THR?

• A. Set thrust to match the current N1, then press the Instinctive Disconnect button.
• B. Push the Master Cancel switch.
• C. Retrim A/THR using the FCU altitude knob.
• D. Pull back on the thrust levers to idle and leave them.

Answer: (A)

The mechanism relies on the Instinctive Disconnect control to rapidly cancel autothrust without unnecessarily affecting other flight controls. To minimize any thrust change when you release A/THR, bring the thrust levers to the current N1 value that autothrust is commanding, then press the Instinctive Disconnect button. This disengages autothrust quickly while keeping the engines at the same level of thrust, avoiding a sudden throttle move. Pushing the Master Cancel switch would also cancel autothrust but would cancel autopilot as well, which isn’t always desired here. Retrimming A/THR with the FCU altitude knob isn’t a valid method, and pulling the thrust levers to idle would create an abrupt thrust change and isn’t the standard way to disconnect A/THR.

The mechanism relies on the Instinctive Disconnect control to rapidly cancel autothrust without unnecessarily affecting other flight controls. To minimize any thrust change when you release A/THR, bring the thrust levers to the current N1 value that autothrust is commanding, then press the Instinctive Disconnect button. This disengages autothrust quickly while keeping the engines at the same level of thrust, avoiding a sudden throttle move.

Pushing the Master Cancel switch would also cancel autothrust but would cancel autopilot as well, which isn’t always desired here. Retrimming A/THR with the FCU altitude knob isn’t a valid method, and pulling the thrust levers to idle would create an abrupt thrust change and isn’t the standard way to disconnect A/THR.