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Europe’s Airbus announced an immediate software update requirement for a significant number of its bestselling A320 family aircraft. Industry insiders estimate this will impact up to half of the global fleet, totaling thousands of jets. This update must be completed before the aircraft’s next scheduled flight, potentially causing cancellations or delays during one of the busiest travel weekends in the U.S. and worldwide.
Airbus explained that recent incidents involving an A320 aircraft have uncovered that severe solar radiation could corrupt critical flight control data. They acknowledged that implementing the fix could lead to operational disruptions for airlines and passengers.
Sources indicated that the trigger for this urgent repair was a JetBlue flight from Cancun to Newark on October 30, during which several passengers sustained injuries following a sudden altitude loss. The flight made an emergency landing in Tampa due to a flight control issue and a rapid, uncommanded descent, prompting an FAA probe. Neither JetBlue nor the FAA responded immediately.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency plans to issue an emergency directive requiring the software fix.
For approximately two-thirds of the affected airplanes, the recall will involve a quick software rollback, with airlines returning to an earlier version. However, this will coincide with high demand on maintenance facilities, which are already struggling with capacity issues and long waits for engine repairs or inspections. Some aircraft may also need hardware replacements, significantly extending ground times.
Currently, around 3,000 A320-family jets are operational worldwide. American Airlines and Wizz Air already indicated which fleet members require the software update. United Airlines reported no impact.
American Airlines noted that about 340 of its 480 A320s need the software update. The airline expects most of these to be completed within a day or two, with roughly two hours required per aircraft.
The A320 series, introduced in 1987, remains among Airbus’s most significant models, especially after surpassing Boeing’s 737 in recent delivery numbers. The aircraft features fly-by-wire controls, marking a major technological milestone.
The problem stems from the ELAC (Elevator and Aileron Computer), which transmits pilot commands from the side-stick to rear elevators, managing the aircraft’s pitch. Thales, the French manufacturer of this system, confirmed that the computer meets Airbus specifications and stated that the current issue involves software not under Thales’s responsibility.
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