Learn how to use the Airbus A320 overhead panel: power-up order, ADIRS, APU and bleed setup, ECAM checks, normal states and common fixes.
Use the Airbus A320 overhead panel by establishing electrical power, aligning the three ADIRS units, configuring fuel, air conditioning and signs, then normally starting the APU and supplying bleed air before engine start. Leave Airbus pushbuttons in AUTO or their unlit state, and confirm each change on ECAM rather than by switch appearance alone.
How do A320 overhead-panel switches work?
Airbus overhead controls follow a dark cockpit principle: once systems are correctly configured, relatively few status or warning lights remain illuminated. Dark does not automatically mean off, however. Many pushbuttons are dark when their system is on and operating automatically.
| Indication | Usual meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Dark pushbutton | Often the normal or automatic state | Verify the associated ECAM system page rather than pressing it unnecessarily |
| White OFF | The system or automatic function has been deselected | Check whether the checklist requires it to be on |
| Blue ON | A manual or temporary selection is active | Confirm the expected response on ECAM |
| Green AVAIL | A power source or system is ready for selection | Select it only when the procedure calls for it |
| Amber FAULT | A fault exists, or a system is changing state | Allow a short transient to clear; if it remains, read ECAM before changing anything |
The exact colours and labels vary by control, so read the illuminated word rather than relying on colour alone. Our explanation of how A320 controls and ECAM displays work together covers the related cockpit indications.
Cold-and-dark A320 overhead-panel sequence
A reliable overhead flow starts at the electrical panel and moves through navigation, safety, fuel and pneumatic systems. This is a general simulator sequence; individual A320 variants and add-ons may change the checklist or automate some items.
- Confirm the aircraft state. Apply the parking brake and check that the aircraft is actually cold and dark. Do not apply a cold-start flow to an aircraft loaded in a runway-ready state, because pressing already-normal pushbuttons may switch working systems off.
- Establish electrical power. Switch BAT 1 and BAT 2 on. If EXT PWR shows AVAIL, select it; otherwise select APU MASTER, allow the intake sequence to begin, press APU START and wait for APU AVAIL. Leave the APU generator in its normal enabled state. The practical A320 electrical-power sequence explains batteries, external power and generator priority in more detail.
- Align the ADIRS. Turn all three ADIRS selectors from OFF to NAV. A study-level aircraft may also require an initial position in the MCDU. Keep the aircraft stationary during alignment; turning a selector off usually resets that unit's alignment.
- Set the safety controls. Confirm the crew oxygen supply is on, arm the emergency exit lights and set the seat-belt and no-smoking signs as required. Guarded controls should not be moved merely to clear every visible light.
- Configure the fuel system. Verify the loaded fuel quantity, then place the required tank pumps in their normal operating state. Centre-tank pump logic differs between A320 variants and simulator implementations, so use the aircraft's own checklist rather than copying a switch pattern from another model.
- Check hydraulics. Engine-driven pumps, the power transfer unit and the blue electric pump normally remain in their automatic or enabled states. Do not run the yellow electric pump routinely; it is mainly used for specific ground or maintenance tasks.
- Prepare air and pressurisation. Leave the packs and cabin-pressure controller in their normal automatic modes, with landing elevation at AUTO unless the aircraft procedure says otherwise. Select APU BLEED before engine start. A correctly modelled A320 closes the pack valves automatically during starting, although some simplified or older add-ons expect the packs to be switched off manually.
- Test and set lights. Perform the fire tests if they are part of the checklist, holding each test only long enough to verify the warnings. Set navigation and logo lights as appropriate, and switch the beacon on before engine start or aircraft movement.
- Start the engines from the pedestal. The ENG MODE selector and engine master switches are not on the overhead panel. After start, verify engine generators, bleed air and hydraulics on ECAM, then switch off APU BLEED and shut down the APU when it is no longer required.
For the surrounding MCDU, engine-start, taxi and take-off actions, follow our full gate-to-flight A320 simulator procedure.
What should the overhead panel look like in normal flight?
In normal flight, most A320 overhead pushbuttons should be dark because electrical generation, hydraulics, fuel feed, bleed air and pressurisation are operating automatically. The panel should not be made dark by switching systems off simply to extinguish their lights.
- Engine generators and hydraulic pumps should be enabled.
- Fuel pumps should match the aircraft's fuel configuration and checklist.
- Packs, bleed-air controls and cabin pressurisation should normally remain automatic.
- Probe and window heating should remain in its normal automatic state.
- Engine or wing anti-ice should be selected only when conditions and the aircraft procedure require it.
- APU MASTER and APU BLEED should normally be off after engine start unless the APU is still needed.
- Exterior lights should match the phase of flight.
Use the ECAM ELEC, BLEED, HYD, FUEL, COND and PRESS pages to confirm the actual system state. A switch can appear normal while the underlying system lacks power, pressure or fuel.
Why will the APU or engines not start?
A failed A320 start is usually caused by missing electrical power, no pneumatic pressure or an incomplete start sequence. Check the indications before repeatedly cycling switches.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Cockpit displays remain black | Only battery power is available, or no source is connected to the AC buses | Select available external power or complete the APU start |
| APU never shows AVAIL | Start sequence was not completed, power is missing or a simulated failure is active | Check BAT 1/2, APU MASTER, APU START and the ECAM APU indications |
| No engine rotation | No bleed-air source or the engine-start controls are not set | Confirm APU BLEED, pneumatic pressure, ENG MODE at IGN/START and the appropriate engine master |
| Navigation displays stay unavailable | ADIRS selectors are off or alignment is incomplete | Set all three units to NAV, enter the required position and wait without moving the aircraft |
| Amber FAULT remains illuminated | A system fault or invalid configuration persists | Read ECAM and the system page; do not clear it by randomly toggling controls |
Do I need to operate every overhead control manually?
No; the amount of manual overhead-panel work depends on the simulator aircraft's systems depth and its loaded state. A study-level A320 expects a proper flow, while a simplified model may automate systems or leave some switches inoperative.
If a switch moves but produces no ECAM response, check whether the add-on models that system and whether a keyboard, controller or hardware-panel binding is immediately overriding it. Saved aircraft states can also reload unwanted settings, so begin with a defined cold-and-dark preset when practising the sequence.