Toulouse [France], November 29 (ANI): Airbus has issued an update on precautionary measures for its A320 Family aircraft after an analysis of a recent event revealed that intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to flight controls, the company said in an official statement.
Airbus said it has identified a significant number of A320 Family aircraft currently in service that may be affected.
According to the statement, Airbus has worked proactively with aviation authorities to request immediate precautionary action from operators through an Alert Operators Transmission (AOT). The measure is intended to implement available software and hardware protections and ensure the fleet remains safe to fly. The AOT will be reflected in an Emergency Airworthiness Directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the company added.
Airbus acknowledged that its recommendations will result in operational disruptions for passengers and customers. The company apologized for the inconvenience and said it would work closely with operators while keeping safety as its highest priority.
As the directive began taking effect, domestic carriers Air India and IndiGo on Saturday warned of possible delays and schedule adjustments on routes operated by their A320 Family aircraft.
In a post on X, Air India said it is “aware of a directive from Airbus related to its A320 family aircraft currently in service across airline operators,” noting that the requirement will involve a “software/hardware realignment” on part of its fleet.
“We are aware of a directive from Airbus related to its A320 family aircraft currently in service across airline operators. This will result in a software/hardware realignment on a part of our fleet, leading to longer turnaround time and delays to our scheduled operations,” the airline said.
“Air India regrets any inconvenience this may cause to passengers till the reset is carried out across the fleet. We request customers to check their flight status before heading to the airport and connect with our contact centre for any further assistance,” it added.
Air India also noted that on November 11, it had completed the retrofit program for its legacy A320neo fleet, with the final aircraft among 27 returning to service with new cabin interiors and updated livery. With newly delivered A320neo jets and those integrated following the Vistara merger, the airline now operates 104 A320 Family aircraft featuring new or upgraded interiors.
IndiGo, in a separate post on X, said that “safety comes first” as it carries out the mandated updates across its A320 fleet “with full diligence and care, in line with all safety protocols.”
“Safety comes first. Always… Airbus has issued a technical advisory for the global A320 fleet. We are proactively completing the mandated updates on our aircraft with full diligence and care, in line with all safety protocols. While we work through these precautionary updates, some flights may see some slight schedule changes,” the airline posted.
“Our teams are here 24×7 to support you with rebooking, updates, and information. Please check your latest flight status on our app or website before heading to the airport. Thank you for your patience and trust in us,” IndiGo added.
Both airlines assured customers of continued support as they carry out the precautionary measures mandated by Airbus. (ANI)
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