Airbus has made a request for rapid modifications to thousands of its aircraft after it was found that severe solar radiation might interfere with vital data that is essential for flight operations.
Approximately 6,000 aircraft are believed to be impacted, representing nearly half of the European aerospace manufacturer’s global fleet. However, most of these aircraft should only require a straightforward software upgrade.
This issue specifically concerns the A320, which is Airbus’s top-selling model, along with other variants from the same series, such as the A318, A319, and A321.
According to Airbus, the complication was identified following a recent incident in the United States involving an aircraft from the A320 family, leading to an apology for any inconvenience caused to travelers.
The event took place on October 30th, when a JetBlue Airways A320 executed an emergency landing in Florida due to a sudden altitude loss, resulting in injuries to at least 15 individuals.
It has been reported that for around 5,100 Airbus airplanes, the problem can be resolved with a relatively easy software modification. In contrast, older models will require new hardware components and will need to be grounded for adjustments.
Airbus has acknowledged that this situation will inevitably result in some operational disruptions for passengers and customers, for which they have expressed their regrets.
Wizz Air has confirmed that some of its planes fall within the affected group and reported that it is organizing the necessary maintenance. Additionally, Air India has stated that this directive may lead to operational delays.
British Airways is thought to be minimally affected by this development. EasyJet has communicated that it anticipates some level of disruption and will keep passengers informed directly about any changes.
“Safety is our utmost priority, and easyJet operates its aircraft in strict adherence to the manufacturer’s protocols,” the airline emphasized.
The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has indicated that Airbus’s request will likely result in some flight disruptions and cancellations.
Giancarlo Buono, the CAA’s director of aviation safety, remarked, “We have been informed about an issue that might impact certain A320 family aircraft and the precautionary measures that EASA has taken.”
He advised passengers to verify with their airlines if their scheduled flights are affected, emphasizing that airlines carry a responsibility to assist travelers when flights are delayed.
The underlying issue is that high-altitude solar and cosmic radiation can disrupt the ELAC computer’s functionality, which oversees the aircraft’s elevators and ailerons—critical aerodynamic components that control the plane’s pitch and roll movements.
The A320 family is classified as
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