Airbus needs to update the software on thousands of A320s. This threatens disruptions in air transportation
European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has warned that it needs to update the software for a significant part of its A320 fleet of around 6,000 aircraft. In most cases, the software can be updated from the cockpit, but about 1,000 older aircraft will require hardware replacement. That will result in the machines having to be taken out of service for a while, Bloomberg's sources said.
"Airbus recognizes that the implementation of these recommendations will cause disruption to airline operations and inconvenience to passengers. We apologize for the possible consequences and will work closely with operators, always putting safety first," the aircraft manufacturer said in a statement.
This could be a serious problem for Airbus, given that the A320 is the company's most popular airplane, Bloomberg notes. The need to modernize the Airbus fleet was announced at the height of the high season in the U.S., when millions of Americans fly for Thanksgiving, Bloomberg notes.
Airbus SE shares ended Nov. 28 trading on the Paris bourse up 0.2% after falling on news of the need for modernization.
What's the problem with the A320?
Airbus issued a warning after an incident on October 30 in American airspace: a JetBlue Airways plane flying from Cancun to Newark (New Jersey) suddenly tilted due to a malfunction in the autopilot, Bloomberg writes. There were no casualties, but the flight was forced to divert to Tampa, Florida. Investigation showed that one of the two computers controlling the altitude and aileron rudder (ELAC 2) failed.
Context
The A320 is a direct competitor to the Boeing 737 - together these two families form the backbone of global civil aviation. Airbus has already experienced serious engine problems on the new A320neo equipped with Pratt & Whitney engines - hundreds of aircraft had to be temporarily taken out of service.
A320 family airliners are controlled by fly-by-wire technology - using electronic signals rather than hydraulics. The ELAC (Elevator Aileron Computers) system is responsible for rudder control, stabilizer control and protection against oversteering.
Amid the growing dependence of modern airplanes on onboard software, any failures can have dire consequences. Earlier, a similar problem was the cause of two Boeing 737 Max crashes, when a malfunction in the MCAS system led to loss of control, Bloomberg notes.
This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor
