Probes and Sensors

Question 1

What probes are heated on the aircraft?

Answer 1

Pitot probes, static ports, AOA sensors, Total Air Temperature (TAT) probes, and windshield sensors

Question 2

When is probe heat automatically activated?

Answer 2

After engine start and airborne (in AUTO); manually on the ground if PROBE/WINDOW HEAT pb is ON

Question 3

Are all probes heated on the ground?

Answer 3

No — some (like TAT probes) are inhibited on the ground even if heat is on

Question 4

How many pitot tubes are there and where do they feed?

Answer 4

3 total: CAPT, F/O, and STBY — each feeds their respective ADR or standby instruments

Question 5

What happens if pitot or static heating fails?

Answer 5

ECAM alerts the crew; air data inputs may become unreliable

Question 6

What happens to TAT probe heating if left on too long on the ground?

Answer 6

Can cause damage — that’s why TAT heating is inhibited until airborne

Question 7

How are AOA sensors protected from freezing?

Answer 7

Heated automatically in flight and on the ground (once engine is running or manually ON)

Question 8

What happens to air data if ADR 1 fails?

Answer 8

Use AIR DATA selector to switch to ADR 3 (CAPT 3)