You are incorrect. AOA probes are on both sides of the fuselage on A320 series aircraft, and are used for constant updating to the FACs, which provide various displays to the pilots; as well they feed AOA information to the fly-by-wire systems. So yes, inaccurate data from AOA probes can have a direct effect on an event that would cause an inflight breakup. In fact the recent AD is specifically about overspeed (as in excess mach) caused by inadvertent activation of Alpha Floor by faulty AOA indications.
FWIW, I am an exeperiened Airbus captain.
Could you provide us non aviators the meaning of Alpha Floor” that you keep referring to?
Thanks
You are correct and this is true for nearly all aircraft with AOA sensors. Hornet drivers will tell you that with a four channel AOA failure autopilot is inoperative, flaps schedule by the FCC's under simulated AOA programming and flaps schedule as a function of limit airspeed but will not extend more than extension at AOA failure. Very degraded flying qualities and in the case of a heavy A320 load limits could easily be exceeded flying through a boomer.
That does make sense. I am used to flying in military a/c (Prowler) that does not have a FAC and the AOA probe sends data only to the AOA gauge inside the cockpit. The Hornet has something similar to what you are describing and cna cause some PIP (Pilot Induced Panic) in situations where the AOA probe is inop.
Was there not a similar situation with an Air France 320 that took out half of a forest a while ago?