In order to reduce rew training costs, the Airbus A380 used similar cockpit layout, procedures and handling characteristics to those of other Airbus airplane.
The A380 features an improved glass cockpit, and fly-by-wire flight controls linked to side-sticks. The improved cockpit displays feature eight 15-by-20 cm (6-by-8-inch) LCD (liquid crystal displays), which are physically identical and interchangeable.
These comprise two PFD (Primary Flight Display), two ND (navigation display), one engine parameter display, one system display and two MFD (Multi-Function Displays). These MFDs are new with the A380, and provide an easy-to-use interface to the FMS (flight Management System) replacing three MCDU (multifunction control and display units).
They include QWERTY keyboards and trackballs, interfacing with a graphical "point-and-click" display navigation system.
