Which flight control law is indicated when direct law is shown?

Direct law is a specific flight control law used on the Airbus A320 during certain flight conditions. It is activated under circumstances where normal and alternate laws are not available, providing direct command inputs from the pilot to the flight control surfaces through the fly-by-wire system. Essentially, in direct law, the aircraft controls behave in a manner that closely replicates traditional mechanical control systems, eliminating certain protections and enhancements that are typically available under normal or alternate law.

When the aircraft is in direct law, pilots experience a more direct connection to the aircraft’s response, which can be advantageous in certain situations, such as system malfunctions. However, it also means that important protections against certain aerodynamic conditions and limits are no longer active, highlighting the importance of understanding the aircraft's performance characteristics during flight in this law.

The other options represent different states of the flight control system. Normal law provides maximum handling capability and protections, while alternate law provides limited protections but retains some benefits. Mechanical backup indicates a complete loss of the fly-by-wire system, leading to a more basic control system. Each of these laws serves different purposes and operates under varying flight conditions, but in this case, direct law is specifically indicated by its name.