Airbus Uncovers Sun Radiation Threat to Flight Control, Disrupting Flights

Recent investigations by Airbus have unveiled a potential threat from solar radiation that could disrupt the flight control systems of thousands of planes. This revelation has led to the grounding of around 6,000 A320 aircraft globally, which constitutes approximately half of Airbus’s overall fleet.

Impact on Air Travel

The UK aviation regulator has warned that there will be some flight disruptions and cancellations due to this issue. Nonetheless, the immediate impact at airports appears limited. Airbus’s findings are a result of an inquiry into a significant incident in October, during which a JetBlue Airways flight traveling from the US to Mexico lost altitude abruptly, injuring at least 15 passengers before making an emergency landing in Florida.

Models Affected

• A320
• A318
• A319
• A321

The vulnerability primarily affects models A318, A319, A320, and A321. Airbus estimates that a quick software update can rectify the issue for about 5,100 of these aircraft. This update typically requires around three hours for completion.

The remaining 900 aircraft, which are older versions, will necessitate the physical replacement of onboard computers. Consequently, these planes will not be permitted to carry passengers until the replacements are installed. The timeline for this process will depend on the availability of replacement components.

Airline Responses

Airbus has acknowledged the operational disruptions this issue may cause for passengers and airlines, extending its apologies. Aviation analyst Sally Gethin noted that the extent of passenger disruption will depend on how airlines approach the software upgrades. For instance, Lufthansa may temporarily ground its aircraft, while other airlines expect limited impact.

In the UK, while Gatwick Airport has reported some disruptions, Heathrow has not encountered any cancellations. British Airways appears least affected, while Wizz Air and Air India are proactively addressing the updates. EasyJet has already completed software upgrades on many of its aircraft and anticipates a return to normal operations soon.

Global Context

The software issue arises at a notably busy travel time in the US, coinciding with Thanksgiving weekend. American Airlines disclosed that 340 of its aircraft were affected but expected most updates to be finalized by the end of the weekend. Delta Airlines has expressed confidence that the impact on its operations will be minimal.

In Australia, budget airline Jetstar canceled 90 flights, acknowledging that about one-third of its fleet was affected by the issue.

Air Safety Assurance

Tim Johnson, the policy director at the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority, emphasized that, while some delays and cancellations are likely, aviation remains one of the safest modes of transportation due to rigorous airline maintenance practices. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander commented on the limited impact on UK airlines and praised the swift identification and resolution of the problem as a demonstration of high global aviation safety standards.

Technical Background

The issue affecting the A320 aircraft is linked to a software component that calculates elevation. Airbus has revealed that at higher altitudes, intense solar radiation can corrupt this data. While the company stated that this incident was the sole occurrence of its kind, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued an emergency airworthiness directive. This directive mandates that the problem be resolved before any aircraft can resume passenger service. However, planes will be allowed to conduct non-passenger “ferry flights” to maintenance facilities.