Editing Fly-by-wire (section)

== Engine digital control ==
{{Main|FADEC}}

The advent of [[FADEC]] (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) engines permits operation of the flight control systems and [[autothrottle]]s for the engines to be fully integrated. On modern military aircraft other systems such as autostabilization, navigation, radar and weapons system are all integrated with the flight control systems. FADEC allows maximum performance to be extracted from the aircraft without fear of engine misoperation, aircraft damage or high pilot workloads.<ref>{{Cite web |last=FAA Safety Briefing |date=February 4, 2022 |title=Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) |url=https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/safety-briefing/full-authority-digital-engine-control-fadec |access-date=June 23, 2024 |website=Federal Aviation Administration}}</ref>

In the civil field, the integration increases flight safety and economy. Airbus fly-by-wire aircraft are protected from dangerous situations such as low-speed stall or overstressing by [[flight envelope protection]]. As a result, in such conditions, the flight control systems commands the engines to increase thrust without pilot intervention. In economy cruise modes, the flight control systems adjust the throttles and fuel tank selections precisely. FADEC reduces rudder drag needed to compensate for sideways flight from unbalanced engine thrust. On the A330/A340 family, fuel is transferred between the main (wing and center fuselage) tanks and a fuel tank in the horizontal stabilizer, to optimize the aircraft's center of gravity during cruise flight. The fuel management controls keep the aircraft's center of gravity accurately trimmed with fuel weight, rather than drag-inducing aerodynamic trims in the elevators.{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}}