Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Training / Qualification; Human-Machine Interface
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Speed All Types
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew FLC Overrode Automation
Aircraft; Human Factors
I was the pilot flying; on departure; instructions rwy heading climb to 3;000 ft. Standard power take off; with a relatively light airplane; using the HUD for departure for currency. Very cold wx; so climb rate very high; leveled off at 3;000; and cleared to 10;000; got a frequency change; clearance direct to next waypoint; all at the same time. Got altitude capture at 3;000; was not watching the FMAs (Flight Mode Annunciator) close enough; the autothrust system stayed in EPR; and airspeed went up to 278 KIAS; we realized that VNAV did not take; even though the PM pushed the switch. Corrected pitch; pulled the power back; & slowed back to 250; got back into VNAV; and continued climb to 10;000 without further incident. Guessing we exceed the 250k speed limit for 15-30 sec. Did not overspeed flaps or slats.Distraction using the HUD; and a very busy couple seconds; with course change; altitude change; frequency change; got task saturated and not paying enough attention to the FMAs. Currency flights; after almost 3 months flying without a HUD. Watching the FMAs more closely. Concentrating on flying the airplane with the HUD; and keeping better scan of flight instruments on the HUD; or quit using HUD; and watch normal instruments; and scan. Remember this scenario; discussed in training; and be more aware of the autothrust FMAs.
Air Carrier Captain reports leveling off at 3;000 feet on departure using the HUD; as he has been flying aircraft without the HUD for several months. VNAV is selected but it is not acknowledged in the HUD and not detected by the reporter. As a result; autothrust maintained climb power at level off and exceeded 250 knots.