In Airbus FBW terminology, what is Normal Law and what protections does it provide?

• A. Normal Law provides no protections; it gives manual control only.
• B. Normal Law provides full flight protections (AoA, bank angle, load factor, and high/low speed protections) and automatic stability augmentation while allowing natural pilot inputs.
• C. Normal Law provides limited protections only when autopilot engaged.
• D. Normal Law is a degraded mode with limited protections.

Answer: (B)

Normal Law is the default fly-by-wire flight control law that preserves a stable, protected envelope while letting the pilot fly with natural inputs. It includes a full set of protections designed to keep the airplane within safe limits during normal operation.

Angle of attack protection prevents stall by limiting the aircraft’s angle of attack and providing automatic cues or adjustments to maintain safe airspeed, even if the pilot commands an attitude that would approach stall. Bank angle protection keeps turns within safe limits, preventing excessive bank that could lead to loss of control. Load factor protection constrains the G-load on the airframe so you don’t exceed structural limits in maneuvering.

High-speed and low-speed protections guard against overspeed and stall margins by moderating the flight path and control surface responses as needed. Automatic stability augmentation helps dampen unwanted motions and stabilizes the aircraft's response, contributing to a smoother, more predictable flight.

All of this operates while preserving the pilot’s ability to input natural commands. The flight control computers translate your inputs into surface movements that stay within the protected envelope, so you feel direct control, but the protections act in the background to prevent unsafe outcomes. If systems are healthy, Normal Law maintains these protections; degraded modes reduce or remove them.