Airbus A320 Software Update Urgency Following Flight Control Concerns
Airlines around the globe are urged to promptly update the software on their Airbus A320 aircraft after Airbus identified a potential risk with flight controls. This precautionary measure comes after an incident analysis revealed that “intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls,” as stated by the manufacturer.
Airbus has issued an Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) to airlines, advocating for immediate action to ensure the safety of the A320 fleet. The company emphasized collaboration with aviation authorities to implement the necessary software and hardware protections.
A considerable number of A320s currently in operation could be affected by this issue, according to Airbus. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has mandated an urgent software update for several Airbus A320s, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is anticipated to follow suit with an emergency airworthiness directive. NPR has reached out to the FAA but has yet to receive a comment.
The incident that prompted this review involved JetBlue Flight 1230, which was en route from Cancun, Mexico, to Newark, New Jersey, when it experienced an unexpected altitude drop on October 30, resulting in several injuries. The A320, with over 9,000 aircraft in operation globally, including 1,600 in the U.S., is the most widely used aircraft model today.
The necessary software update is expected to cause “operational disruptions to passengers and customers,” particularly during the busy holiday travel period, with millions of travelers returning home. American Airlines, which has 340 A320 aircraft requiring the update, has committed to completing the updates by Friday and Saturday. The airline anticipates some delays but is working to minimize flight cancellations.
Delta Air Lines has stated that any operational impact from the update is expected to be limited, while United Airlines confirmed that its fleet is not affected by the software issue. Frontier Airlines is assessing Airbus’s notice, and Allegiant Air is actively working to reduce any disruptions, with plans to contact affected passengers directly.
NPR has also contacted JetBlue and Spirit Airlines for their comments on the situation but has not received a response yet.
An American Airlines Airbus A320-211 is seen on the tarmac on Jan. 8, 2020, at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
