A320 FO LAMENTS THE LACK OF ACCURATE INFORMATION IN COMPANY PUBLICATIONS CONCERNING THE AIRBUS IGNITION SYSTEM.

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DOING PERSONAL RESEARCH ON AIRBUS IGNITION WITH ENG ANTI-ICE; I HAVE DETERMINED THAT IT IS AN AREA OF GREAT CONFUSION. MOST MANUALS ARE WRONG AND STATE THE IGNITION IS ON WHEN ENG ANTI-ICE IS ON. RECENT CHANGES TO THE AIRBUS FADEC WERE ADDRESSED BY A 'PH' HANDBOOK BULLETIN THAT WAS AT BEST DOUBLE-SPEAK. I HAVE PERSONALLY INTERVIEWED DOZENS OF PLTS; INSTRUCTORS; MECHS; ETC. I HAVE NO CLEARER UNDERSTANDING. MY BEST GUESS IS THAT IGNITION IS NOT ON WITH ENG ANTI-ICE AND WILL ONLY COME ON WHEN THE ENGS ARE SPOOLING BELOW 58% N2 AFTER FLAMEOUT. 1 OUT OF 20 KNOW THIS. I BELIEVE THE PLT GROUP NEEDS IMMEDIATE CLARIFICATION OF: 1) WHEN THE IGNITION IS ON AUTOMATICALLY; AND 2) WHEN IT SHOULD BE SELECTED MANUALLY; 3) MANUALS; THEY NEED TO BE UPDATED TO REFLECT HOW THE SYS WORKS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN INCIDENT WITH THE AIRBUS WHERE IGNITION OR LACK THEREOF HAS BEEN A FACTOR IN A FLAMEOUT. MY GUT TELLS ME THAT'S INCORRECT AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE GIVEN FACTS RATHER THAN BE ASKED TO DEMONSTRATE BLIND FAITH WITH NO EVIDENCE. WITH 28 YRS OF FLYING TURBINE ACFT I FAIL TO BELIEVE THAT IGNITION HAS NO VALUE OTHER THAN STARTING THE ENGS. WE WERE TAUGHT TO USE IT FOR CONTAMINATED RWYS; ICING CONDITIONS; GREATER THAN MODERATE TURB; VOLCANIC ASH ENCOUNTERS; HAIL AND GREATER THAN MODERATE RAIN. PLTS AND MECHS BOTH NEED CLARIFICATION ON THE IGNITION SYS; THE POLICIES AND PROCS REGARDING ITS USE OR LACK THEREOF.