An issue with Airbus A320 airplanes has largely been resolved, the company said in an update published on Monday.
Over the weekend, airlines worldwide worked around the clock to comply with an urgent directive issued by regulators on Friday. It warned that the planes require a software update. An issue with the flight control software was identified and airlines will be required to correct the problem before their planes are permitted to fly again.
According to Airbus, approximately 6,000 planes worldwide were affected, and as of Monday morning in Europe, less than 100 remained to be modified.
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“The vast majority have now received the necessary modifications,” the company’s statement said. “Airbus apologises for any challenges and delays caused to passengers and airlines by this event.”
Because Airbus planes are manufactured by a European company, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency issued the initial order. The Federal Aviation Administration subsequently issued an immediate emergency order requiring airlines to update or replace faulty elevator-aileron control software on about 545 Airbus aircraft — banning further use of the affected software — and mandating the fixes before the planes can fly again with a deadline of midnight on Sunday, Nov. 30.
Airbus found that a recent solar radiation burst (basically a very strong wave of energy from the sun) affected the computer data on at least one Airbus A320-series plane.
“An Airbus A320 aeroplane recently experienced an uncommanded and limited pitch down event. The autopilot remained engaged throughout the event, with a brief and limited loss of altitude, and the rest of the flight was uneventful,” EASA’s Emergency Airworthiness Directive said.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued its own order, requiring U.S. airlines to complete the necessary work by 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 30.
This type of radiation can temporarily corrupt the data used by the plane’s flight-control computers, which help pilots steer and keep the aircraft stable.
“This condition, if not corrected, could lead in the worst-case scenario to an uncommanded elevator movement that may result in exceeding the aircraft’s structural capability,” the directive continued.
The agency’s order requires airlines to implement it before the next flight, which could lead to disruptions as airlines work to update the software in their aircraft or replace onboard equipment.
Airbus acknowledged the situation in a statement.
“Airbus has worked proactively with the aviation authorities to request immediate precautionary action from operators via an Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) in order to implement the available software and/or hardware protection, and ensure the fleet is safe to fly,” the statement said.
How are US airlines responding?
U.S. airlines largely completed the necessary work without significant operational disruptions over the Thanksgiving weekend. Severe weather was a major driver of air travel headaches as people returned from their holiday plans.
Statements from Airbus and airlines during the initial phase of the issue emphasized safety and said passengers shouldn’t feel they need to switch flights if they are scheduled to fly on an A320-family aircraft. The issue is being handled proactively and transparently, and airlines are making sure their planes are airworthy before releasing them for departure.
(This story was updated to refresh headlines and add new information.)
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@Alpine Times.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Urgent A320 fix largely finished by airlines with minimal disruptions
