Flight Operations Affected by Airbus Directive
New Delhi: Flight operations for IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express are set to face interruptions as they address a potential issue concerning flight controls in their A320 aircraft. Reports indicate that between 200 and 250 planes in India will be affected.
Airbus announced that intense solar radiation could compromise critical flight control data in numerous A320 family aircraft, necessitating software modifications that will disrupt operations.
As many of the domestic carriers’ narrow-body A320 planes undergo these software updates or, in some cases, hardware adjustments, operational delays are expected due to the grounding of these aircraft.
Indian airlines operate around 560 A320 family aircraft, with 200 to 250 requiring software updates or hardware modifications.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has instructed Airbus to ensure that a serviceable Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC) is installed in the affected aircraft.
Typically, the ELAC is integral to flight control systems.
EASA has mandated that this issue be resolved before the next flight of the affected aircraft by either replacing or modifying the ELAC.
On Saturday, IndiGo acknowledged the notification from Airbus regarding the A320 family aircraft, stating, “We are collaborating closely with Airbus to implement the necessary changes as per their notification. We are striving to minimize disruptions during the inspection process.”
Air India Express also confirmed that it has taken immediate precautionary measures in response to the alert regarding a software fix for its Airbus A320 fleet. Although most of its aircraft are unaffected, the guidance applies globally and may lead to adjustments in flight schedules, including possible delays or cancellations.
A source indicated that 31 A320 family aircraft from Air India Express will be impacted.
Air India, in a post on X, stated it is aware of the Airbus directive concerning its A320 family aircraft currently in operation.
“This will necessitate software and hardware adjustments on part of our fleet, resulting in longer turnaround times and delays in our scheduled flights. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to passengers until the reset is completed across the fleet,” the airline added.
The three airlines have not disclosed the exact number of affected aircraft.
The A320 family includes models such as A319s, A320 ceos and neos, and A321 ceos and neos.
In an Emergency Airworthiness Directive, EASA noted that Airbus has requested airline operators to install a serviceable ELAC in the impacted aircraft.
Airbus stated that an analysis of a recent incident involving an A320 family aircraft revealed that intense solar radiation could corrupt essential flight control data.
“Airbus has identified a significant number of A320 family aircraft currently in service that may be affected,” the company said in a release.
Airbus acknowledged that these recommendations would lead to operational disruptions for passengers and customers, expressing regret for the inconvenience and emphasizing safety as their top priority.
The aircraft manufacturer has proactively collaborated with aviation authorities to request immediate precautionary actions from operators through an Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) to implement available software and/or hardware protections, ensuring the fleet’s safety.
According to EASA, an Airbus A320 recently experienced an uncommanded and limited pitch-down event, with the autopilot remaining engaged throughout the incident, resulting in a brief loss of altitude, while the remainder of the flight was uneventful.
A preliminary technical assessment by Airbus identified a malfunction of the affected ELAC as a potential contributing factor.
If left unaddressed, this condition could lead to an uncommanded elevator movement, potentially exceeding the aircraft’s structural limits, as warned by EASA.
To mitigate this potential safety risk, a serviceable ELAC must be installed in the affected aircraft.
