Flight operations of several airlines, including IndiGo, Air India and Air India Express, could see disruptions as they address a possible issue related to flight controls in their A320 family planes. This comes after 15 passengers on a JetBlue-operated Airbus A320 flight from Mexico were injured after a sudden drop in altitude led to an emergency landing in Florida earlier this month.
Airbus SE has warned that over half its active A320 jetliner family fleet would need to implement a software fix. Notably, Indian operators have around 560 A320 family aircraft and over 200 of them would require software changes or hardware adjustments, sources told PTI.
Impact on flight operations
As many planes belonging to the A320 family aircraft in India and across the world undergo software changes or hardware adjustments, in some cases, operational disruptions are expected since they have to be grounded, the report said. Notably, the A320 family includes A319s, A320 ceos and neos, and A321 ceos and neos.
In separate statements, many domestic carriers have also addressed the issue and notified passengers about the disruptions. On Saturday, IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, announced that it was aware of a notice by Airbus regarding the A320 family aircraft.
“We are working closely with Airbus to ensure implementation as per Airbus notification. While we carry out the necessary inspections, we are making every effort to minimise disruptions,” it said in a statement.
{{/usCountry}}“We are working closely with Airbus to ensure implementation as per Airbus notification. While we carry out the necessary inspections, we are making every effort to minimise disruptions,” it said in a statement.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, Air India Express said, “We have initiated immediate precautionary action in response to an alert requiring a software fix on the Airbus A320 fleet. While a majority of our aircraft are not impacted, the guidance applies to operators worldwide and may result in adjustments to flight operations, including potential delays or cancellations.”
Air India has clarified that there have been no cancellations due to the ongoing mandatory software and hardware realignment on A320 family aircraft worldwide. However, it added that some flights might be slightly delayed or rescheduled.
“Air India can confirm that there have been no cancellations due to this task and there isn't any major impact on schedule integrity across our network. However, some of our flights may be slightly delayed or rescheduled. Our colleagues on ground are there to assist the passengers,” it said in a statement.
What did Airbus say?
In a statement, Airbus SE said that more than half its active A320 jetliner family fleet would need a software update after the recent incident involving a JetBlue Airways aircraft suggested that “intense solar radiation” could lead to corruption of data used to keep flight controls working.
It said that more than 6,500 jets could be affected by the required update. This upgrade also needs to take place before an aircraft’s next regular flight, it said in a notice.
Notably, the A320 is the rival to Boeing Co. 737 aircraft, and both jetliner families are key aircraft in the civil aviation industry.
DGCA's directive to airlines
In a notification issued to the airlines in India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered Airbus A318, A319, A320, A321 operators to not run flights except the ones that are in “accordance with the compliance to requirement”.
“This is to be ensured that no person shall operate the product which falls under the applicability of this Mandatory Modification except those which are in accordance with the compliance to requirement of Mandatory Modification (8)/ applicable Airworthiness Directive(s). This is to be affirmed that all operators are informed of the Mandatory Modification(s)/ Inspection (s) and Master Mandatory Modification List kept in your office is updated,” it said.
The DGCA added, “You are requested to confirm the compliance in accordance to Airworthiness Procedure Manual Section-II, Chapter 7.”