Airbus warns of solar radiation risk, issues safety orders for A320 fleet

Airbus has issued precautionary measures for its A320 Family aircraft after analysis of a recent event revealed that intense solar radiation could corrupt data critical to flight controls, the company said in an official statement. A significant number of in-service A320 aircraft have been identified as potentially affected.

Precautionary Measures and Regulatory Action

Airbus has reportedly worked with aviation authorities to issue an Alert Operators Transmission (AOT), requesting immediate implementation of available software and hardware protections to ensure fleet safety. The advisory will be reflected in an Emergency Airworthiness Directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). 

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Airbus warned that these measures could lead to operational disruptions and apologized for any inconvenience, emphasizing that safety remains its top priority.

Impact on Airlines and Passengers

Domestic carriers Air India and IndiGo have reportedly cautioned passengers about potential delays and schedule adjustments. Air India stated that the directive will require software and hardware realignment on parts of its fleet, potentially affecting turnaround times. The airline has requested passengers to check flight status online and noted that it has already retrofitted its legacy A320neo fleet, with a total of 104 A320 Family aircraft now featuring new or upgraded interiors.

IndiGo assured passengers that updates will be carried out with full diligence and adherence to safety protocols, though slight schedule changes may occur. Both airlines have reportedly confirmed 24x7 customer support for rebooking and updates during the precautionary measures.

Airlines have urged travellers to monitor flight status and cooperate as the mandated safety updates are implemented across the A320 fleet.