REVIEW: Thrustmaster TCA Captains Pack Airbus
An Airbus inspired throttle and joystick combo
Official description and key features:
Since its launch, the TCA Airbus Edition range has become a reference in civil aviation simulation on PC. Thrustmaster is proud to bring its range to Xbox with the TCA Captain Pack X Airbus Edition! These ergonomic replicas of the Airbus sidestick and quadrant (A320/A320neo type, 1:1 scale) are officially licensed for Xbox Series X|S and compatible with PC. It features 14 remappable action buttons offering a multitude of possibilities, plus a built-in throttle axis with thrust reverser mechanism (a unique feature on airliners). Thanks to the new Ecosystem Hub integrated into the back of the product, take advantage of simplified connectivity with software support for the TCA Quadrant Airbus Edition and Thrustmaster rudder controls allowing you to have only one USB cable connected to the PC or console! The TCA Sidestick X Airbus Edition is an Ultimate version taking up the strengths of its predecessor by adding a redesigned base, an enhanced throttle for more comfort and reliability, new tact switch buttons for an immersive flight experience!
Ergonomic replicas of the Airbus sidestick and throttle quadrant (A320 type), officially licensed by Airbus and Xbox Series X|S
Joystick featuring 4 swappable joystick head button modules, and 14 remappable tact switch buttons with Xbox configuration (Xbox Guide, Share…)
Enhanced Throttle with built-in thrust reverser mechanism, and rudder control by rotating the sidestick’s handle (lockable/unlockable)
Iconic Airbus Quadrant controls including trim, landing gear, autobrake, rudder trim and parking brake, for total immersion
31 Airbus replica feeling action buttons and 4 axes on the Quadrant for a multitude of possibilities in flight
Contactless magnetic sensor technology, with no potentiometers, for an unlimited lifespan and optimal precision
Sim Pilot HQ’s Take:
When I first started getting into Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, I was cursed to start out the same way we’re all cursed to start: by using a mouse and keyboard. Needless to say, trying to seriously control an aircraft with key presses for left, right and center is…less than ideal.
In those first few hours of exploring MSFS, I was also completely enamored by the default Airbus A320 model and was quickly drawn into the idea of learning how to seriously fly an airliner. To do that, though, would require some research into a controller setup that would allow me to control not only the Airbus but also the other aircraft in MSFS. If you’re reading this review, I imagine you’re in the same position I was! Luckily for both of us, Thrustmaster makes an excellent product to fit exactly this need with their TCA Captains Pack for Airbus.
The Sidestick
For as long as I’ve played flight games on a PC, I’ve used a stick based controller (as opposed to a gamepad or yoke). My knowledge of Boeings aircraft sent me down a rabbit’s hole of “yoke versus sidestick” research on the internet, but ultimately I wanted to simulate the true Airbus experience and so I embraced the idea of using a sidestick.
Thrustmaster has done a nice job here by presenting us a sidestick that is not only ergonomically similar to the actual Airbus sidestick, but they’ve also built in a few additional options to make the controller itself more useful. The additional buttons on the base are easily programmed within MSFS, and the Z-rotational twist action on the stick itself was a godsend for me to use as rudder control before I even knew what rudder pedals were. If you happen to already own rudder pedals and don’t want the sidestick to rotate, that Z-axis twist is also lockable via a push-switch at the front of the sidestick.
The built in hat switch at the center of the top of the sidestick was also extremely useful for looking left / right, but I’d highly recommend an alternative eye / head tracking solution that would allow you to assign the hat switch to other functions in the game.
The red autopilot button at the top of the joystick can also be switched to the left or right side of the controller, which allows to simulate being in the First Officer or Captains seat, respectively. There’s also an additional axis controller at the bottom but when paired with the Thrustmaster Airbus throttle quadrant I found very few instances where this axis would need to be used.
Overall the ergonomics of the sidestick felt great in my hand. I would have appreciated some kind of soft touch material instead of the molded plastic feel, but I do understand that Thrustmaster is trying to meet a certain market price for this offering. Along those same lines, there is a clear “return to center” feel on the stick itself and I do not feel like small, minute movements are registered as such. If you want more sensitive, less center-weighted control sticks you’re likely going to spend hundreds of dollars on the bases and the sticks alone. At anywhere from $90 to $120 USD based on retailer, Thrustmaster is clearly marketing this more for entry level Airbus enthusiasts.
PC and XBOX Compatibility
One important fact that I want to bring to your attention is that my experience with the Thrustmaster TCA Airbus Captains Pack is with their original PC release version. In some of the product shots above, and now available at all retailers, you’ll notice that Thrustmaster has added XBOX compatibility and additional features (like upgraded buttons and new USB interfaces) to their sidestick. Although I can’t vouch for the added XBOX features or compatibility as I am a PC player, I can say with certainty that the quality of the product certainly wouldn’t have gone down from the PC version I own, so whether you’re a PC player or an XBOX player - the current retail version should still be an excellent option.
The Throttle Quadrant
This is the real star of the show. The throttle quarant, to me, really shines when you purchase the Captains Pack (or assemble it on your own). In order to hit a larger customer segment and keep prices lower, Thrustmaster has given customers a few options with their Airbus throttle system:
Officers Pack: throttles, engine starters, ignition + buttons, With sidestick. $189 USD
Thrustmaster TCA Quadrant Add On Airbus Edition: all of the above, plus left and right quadrant additions to add flaps, gear, auto brake, rudder trim, parking brake and flaps lever. $110 USD for PC only version or $230 for XBOX compatible version.
Captains Pack: all of the above ready to go in one pack purchased together. $299 USD.
The additional flaps, speed brake, parking brake and gear lever are, to me, an integral part of the experience, and so I highly recommend looking into the Captains Pack as your purchase, especially if you’re on XBOX.
An Authentic Airbus Experience
The throttle control of an Airbus A320 is an interesting thing to learn. There are detents that the fly-by-wire flight management system uses to “lock” into at certain points of the flight. It’s critical that your throttle is locked precisely into these detents or else the system will constantly alert you that the throttles are not properly aligned. The joy of the Thrustmaster Airbus throttle is that these detents are already set up for you! It’s a real joy to open the package to feel the detents and to especially try out the working reverse thrusters with the locking finger lift.
Tension on the flaps, throttle and speed brake levers can also be adjusted, and the detents can be completely removed by swapping out small plates under the throttle unit itself. This is a 5 minute operation though, so it isn’t necessarily a quick swap if you want to switch out to a plane that doesn’t use the throttle detents. I decided to remove the detents from the speed brake because I didn’t notice any detent action on the A320 itself.
As for as construction quality, we’re once again presented with a molded plastic feel to the unit, and there is the sense that we’re not getting a 1:1 scale representation here. Then again, price is a factor in all of these decisions. Despite a plastic feel, I still like we’re still presented with a really useful array of controller options with this throttle quadrant. Aside from rudder trim, which I rarely use, I feel like all of the buttons provided were useful choices.
A Note on Throttle and Sidestick Setup
One side effect of using the Thrustmaster TCA Captains Pack: you’re really going to start loving flying the A320. So much so, that you’ll likely download the amazing free Flybywire A320 mod or pay for the equally amazing and full fidelily Fenix A320. The Thrustmaster Airbus throttle quadrant and sidestick work with both of of these airplanes, but setup processes through the built in tablet (FBW A320) and MCDU (Fenix A320) differ greatly. Be patient and consult the myriad YouTube tutorials on how to accomplish this and you’ll be flying in no time.
Conclusion
Let’s start my final thoughts of the Thrustmaster TCA Captains Pack for Airbus with a rapid fire list of Pro’s and Con’s.
Pro’s:
Great entry level price points with purchase options if you don’t want the entire pack
Authentic sidestick design and throttle controls specifically designed for Airbus aircraft
Capable of being used for other aircraft as well thanks to detent removal possibility
Additional buttons on the sidestick and throttle quadrant allow for more button assignments
Capable of being used on desktops or mounted via desk mounts
Con’s
Sidestick and throttle controls are very plastic feeling
Throttle quadrant controls feel miniature compared to the 1:1 sidestick
If using desk mounts, throttle axis detent removal may be difficult without removing desk mounts first
PC users now pay more for the same stick / throttle combo if purchasing the new XBOX compatible versions
As you can see, the Con’s list is very subjective as there’s not a lot to fault on the Thrustmaster TCA Captains Pack for Airbus. None of my Con’s really hit the functionality of the product, which should be a testament to how many flights you’ll be able to appreciate once the combo is properly set up in your sim.
I would encourage PC users to look for the older PC sidesticks and throttles, perhaps on the used market from reputable sellers to save a few more dollars on the product and not pay for the added XBOX functionality or labeling. Having said that, first time buyers could benefit from any manufacturing updates Thrustmaster may have integrated into their XBOX refresh, particularly the USB passthrough options if USB ports on your PC are scarce. The choice is yours.
The Thrustmaster TCA Captains Pack for Airbus is a clear winner in my book. It’s a joy to open and set up and really helps you appreciate the Airbus aircraft at your command. The sidestick can be used with any other planes you fly as can the throttle quadrant albeit with a bit more tinkering and setup.
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