Fly-by-wire technology on commercial airliners was a revolution. However, such radical changes prompted some to consider the merits of automation over human control, as we discover in this exclusive extract from a new book

Airbus revolutionised cockpit design with the introduction of fly-by-wire technology, eliminating the need of a large yoke control column in favour of a sidestick
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By 1980 Airbus zeroed in on the short-haul market as the battlefield where it could win market share from the leading American manufacturers. This segment was growing rapidly as hub-and-spoke route systems began dominating commercial aviation.