NARRATOR: Powerful computer systems are designed to control everything from air speed and altitude to turning the aircraft. The design philosophy: that automation improves safety.

In a flight simulator, veteran pilot Martin Alder demonstrates the features of these computer systems.

MARTIN ALDER (Airbus Training Pilot): Gear up.

In a conventional airplane, instead of this side-stick, I'd have quite a big control column here. You need plenty of leverage to apply the mechanical forces you need to move the control surfaces to control the airplane.

NARRATOR: In a conventional airplane, the pilot pulls mechanical levers to operate a hydraulic control system. But on the A330, this heavyweight gear is replaced by an electronic system called "fly-by-wire."

The pilot tells the flight computer what he wants to do, but it is the computer that translates this intention into action and executes the maneuver.

MARTIN ALDER: So if I want to go to the left, stick to the left, round to the left.

NARRATOR: The flight computer adjusts the control surfaces, and the aircraft turns. Maneuvers like this cause the A330 to lose altitude, so the advanced computer compensates by increasing power and pitching the nose up to provide the right amount of lift. The pilot does nothing.

MARTIN ALDER: I take my hands off, and there we are, it's flying round. Vertical speed, 0; 25 degrees of bank; 240 knots; it's going to fly around at 25 degrees of bank, and keep doing this until we get bored.

NARRATOR: The flight computer won't carry out any pilot command that endangers the safety of the aircraft.

MARTIN ALDER: If the pilot were to lose control for some reason, the system would save the airplane.

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