Rudder Use

[Pathfinder-808]

Hi all.  Should rudders be used on airliners such as the A321, 737, and 747 just as they are used on smaller planes?   The default Airbus A321 flight computer prevents me from using the rudder in flight, I assume as a safety feature, but my turns seem rather uncoordinated.  Is it supposed to be like this?

[tcco94]

[quote]Hi all.

[Anxyous]

You can't use rudder in the A321? Weird, I have no problems with mine...

Use them like on small planes.

[Pathfinder-808]

You can't use rudder in the A321? Weird, I have no problems with mine...

Use them like on small planes.

Yeah, I see the rudder pedals depressing in VC (for the A321), but my PFD and spot view show no deflection.  

[Joe60]

Actually only last night I was watching an Aircraft Investigation program on the National Geographic channel on TV and there the NTSB said that under no circumstances should the rudder be used under normal flight conditions as the enormous strain put on it during flight could snap it off which actually happened in this case.
They say the rudder should only be used during a crosswind when landing or to help hold the aircraft on course if one engine has failed.
Apparently some Airlines actually trained their pilots to use the rudder in flight which the NTSB claimed is wrong and these pilots had to be retrained.

[DaveSims]

Actually only last night I was watching an Aircraft Investigation program on the National Geographic channel on TV and there the NTSB said that under no circumstances should the rudder be used under normal flight conditions as the enormous strain put on it during flight could snap it off which actually happened in this case.
They say the rudder should only be used during a crosswind when landing or to help hold the aircraft on course if one engine has failed.
Apparently some Airlines actually trained their pilots to use the rudder in flight which the NTSB claimed is wrong and these pilots had to be retrained.

I don't know if I'd go as far as saying not to use it at all.  The crash was caused by the co pilot slamming the rudder back and forth several times, which overstressed the tail.  He thought he was fighting turbulence but was actually causing the movement himself.  They still use a little to keep it coordinated, just like a small plane.  However, most larger aircraft have a cheat, called the yaw damper.  If the yaw damper is engaged, it automatically controls the rudder, which could explain why your rudder on the Airbus was not moving.