Airbus has issued a request for immediate software upgrades to its A320 aircraft fleet. This action follows an analysis revealing that intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to flight control systems.
Incident Background
The issue was identified after an analysis of an incident involving JetBlue Flight 1230 on October 30. This flight, traveling from Cancun, Mexico, to Newark, New Jersey, experienced a sudden altitude drop, resulting in multiple injuries.
Fleet Impact and Regulatory Action
Airbus stated that a significant number of the A320 family aircraft, which constitutes over 9,000 planes globally and 1,600 in the U.S., may be affected. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has already mandated an immediate software change for specific A320 models. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is anticipated to release a similar emergency airworthiness directive.
Airline Responses and Operational Outlook
- American Airlines reported taking swift action, with 340 A320 aircraft requiring software replacement. The airline expects updates to be finalized by Friday and Saturday, anticipating some delays but aiming to minimize cancellations. The airline emphasized safety as its top priority during the upgrade process.
- Delta Air Lines stated that it anticipates a limited operational impact from the required fixes.
- United Airlines confirmed that its aircraft are not affected by this specific software issue.
- Frontier Airlines is evaluating the notice from Airbus.
- Allegiant Air indicated efforts to minimize potential delays or disruptions, with plans to directly contact affected passengers.
- JetBlue and Spirit Airlines have not yet provided public statements regarding the issue.
Airbus acknowledged that the required software update could lead to operational disruptions for passengers and customers, particularly as it coincides with a busy holiday travel weekend.