Airlines Rush to Fix A320 Software Amid Control Concerns

IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express are promptly upgrading software in A320 planes to fix potential flight control issues. This follows an Airbus alert about solar radiation corrupting critical data. Most fleet upgrades are complete, with delays and few cancellations affecting Indian carriers.

IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express actively pursued software upgrades across their A320 fleets on Saturday, aiming to mitigate potential flight control issues. The upgrades, impacting 338 aircraft, stem from Airbus' warnings about solar radiation corrupting data crucial to aircraft controls.

By Saturday evening, 80% of affected planes had received the necessary modifications, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). While Air India Express cancelled four flights, IndiGo and Air India reported no cancellations, although some delays lasted up to 90 minutes.

The global alert followed an analysis suggesting solar interference could lead to uncommanded movements in the A320 family aircraft. Former pilot Ehsan Khalid emphasized the risks, citing a previous JetBlue incident involving uncommanded pitch changes. IndiGo and Air India remain on track to complete upgrades by November 30.

(With inputs from agencies.)