Airbus Addresses A320 Software Glitch, Majority of Grounded Jets Now Fixed
A software glitch that impacted more than 6,000 Airbus A320 aircraft and forced airlines to cancel and delay flights over the weekend, has been largely addressed, with less than 100 planes still requiring updates, according to the European aircraft manufacturer. The issue, which affected a navigation control software and could potentially be influenced by solar radiation, was resolved faster than expected, averting further travel disruptions.
Background and Context
On Friday, Airbus issued a global recall of its A320 fleet following a mid-air incident in the United States. The recall led to operational disruptions in several countries, with airlines like Jetstar in Australia cancelling domestic flights. The defect was also linked to a quality control issue during production that affected fuselage panels on a limited number of aircraft.
Key Developments
The software glitch prompted Airbus to modify the software on almost all A320 aircraft, with less than 100 still grounded for updates as of Monday. The manufacturer emphasized that the problem has been contained,
and all potentially impacted aircraft are being inspected. Airbus fleets have since returned to normal operations, much to the relief of airlines and passengers.
Despite the swift action taken by Airbus, Tony Fernandes, founder of AirAsia, one of Airbus’ largest customers of single-aisle jets, called the glitch a “good warning” to the industry. He suggested that testing protocols for aircraft software need to be re-examined, as the incident indicated that the software was likely not thoroughly tested.
Implications and Reactions
The software issue led to significant disruptions in air travel, with airlines worldwide cancelling and delaying flights. Jetstar in Australia grounded some of its Airbus fleet and cancelled domestic flights following the recall. The Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also barred airlines from operating Airbus A319, A320, and A321 aircraft until urgent software or hardware modifications were completed.
The incident has drawn attention to the robustness of testing protocols for aircraft software. Fernandes stressed the need for a thorough review in the wake of the glitch, indicating that the industry needs to learn from this incident.
Conclusion: Current Status
While less than 100 planes in the A320 series remain grounded for updates, the majority of the affected aircraft have been modified and returned to service. The quick resolution of the software glitch has averted further travel disruptions, and Airbus is now focusing on inspecting all potentially impacted aircraft.
Airbus shares fell more than 10% in Paris on Monday following reports of the quality problems with the A320 fuselage panels. Despite the stock market reaction, the manufacturer has confirmed that the issue is under control and has not significantly affected its delivery schedule.