Airbus A320 A/P takes shortcuts

  • Dear IPACS,

    I am writing to ask a clarification on a certain A320 behaviour during A/P usage following a flightplan. I have seen when there is some sort of "loop back" of the flightplan or a large bend used to change direction, the A/P decides that the flight plan further up is closer and cuts away the large radius curve to shorten the flight and jump to the next section.
    This can be reproduced on standard listed flight (Graz to Zurich).

    After ZUE, on descent, the A/P takes "shortcuts", but I have seen it happening on other flights (manually entered) with similar characteristics.

    This happens independently if is the "copilot" flying the aircraft or the user.



    In flight it looks like this:


    As you can see, the A/P decides that the left hand passage over the airport of Zurich is "too long" or any other reason, and cuts already to the loopback for the approach.

    Aerofly version: 4.07.01.00 (20250521) from App Store (not Test Flight)

    Mac Version:
    Mac Studio 32GB M2 Max Chip, Mac OS Sequoia 15.5
    Let me know what logs do you need or additional screenshots.
    Best regards,

  • Finally home and back on main PC so Just tried the same thing and got similar though oddly not the same results.

    Initially I found it did follow the APP but once it reached 8000 it decided to just do it's own thing and practically as you say find the shortest solution. It's like something just went "over here....now" . I'm wondering if it's to do with the speed and bank requirements the software is calculating to make that turn.