Airbus rush to update A320 software after plane's sudden altitude drop • FRANCE 24 English

Key Concepts

• Airbus A320: A best-selling commercial aircraft.
• Flight Control Software: Software that translates pilot commands into actions for the aircraft's control surfaces.
• Side Stick: A joystick-like control used by pilots to command aircraft movements.
• Elevators: Control surfaces at the rear of the aircraft that control pitch.
• Telis: The French manufacturer of the flight control system.
• Solar Radiation/Solar Storms: Energetic particles emitted from the sun that can disrupt electronic systems.
• Emergency Landing: An unscheduled landing due to a critical in-flight issue.

Flight Control Software Issue and Recall

Airbus has mandated immediate repairs for 6,000 of its A320 aircraft, representing over half of its global fleet. The issue stems from a flight control software problem that renders the planes unsafe to fly until rectified. This critical system transmits commands from the pilot's side stick to the elevators at the rear of the aircraft. The manufacturer of this flight system is the French company Telis, which has stated it is not responsible for the problem.

Incident Prompting the Recall

The recall was initiated following an incident on October 30th involving a flight from Cancun to Newark. During this flight, a sharp loss of altitude caused injuries to several passengers, necessitating an emergency landing in Florida.

Suspected Cause: Solar Radiation

Following an analysis of the incident, Airbus has posited that intense solar radiation may have been the cause. This refers to solar storms, which are characterized by the emission of particles from explosions on the sun's surface. These particle clouds can reach Earth in approximately 20 hours. If these solar storms possess significant intensity, they can disrupt computer systems, potentially leading to erroneous information being fed into the flight control system.

Repair Process and Timeline

The repairs for each aircraft are expected to take only a few hours. However, the overall disruption to airline operations will vary depending on the specific airline. Airbus has issued an apology for any inconvenience and pledged to work closely with operators, emphasizing that safety remains their highest priority.

Airline Disruptions and Impact

The recall has led to significant operational impacts for various airlines:

• Air France: Announced the cancellation of 35 flights on a Friday, accounting for 5% of its daily total.
• American Airlines: Reported that 209 of its planes were affected and anticipated some delays.
• Abiana (Colombian Carrier): Stated that the recall concerned over 70% of its fleet and announced a halt to ticket sales for travel dates up to December 8th.

Conclusion

The Airbus A320 fleet is facing a significant recall due to a flight control software issue, potentially triggered by intense solar radiation. While repairs are relatively quick per aircraft, the widespread nature of the recall is causing considerable disruption to commercial airlines globally, with specific impacts on flight schedules and ticket sales already being reported. The focus remains on ensuring the safety of the aircraft through these necessary repairs.