Airbus Grounds Flights Amid Solar Radiation Concerns, Updates Software for Data Integrity
Thousands of Airbus A320 family aircraft were grounded globally for a software update after it was discovered that solar radiation could interfere with onboard flight control computers. The issue stemmed from a problem with software that calculates a plane’s altitude, potentially causing data corruption at high altitudes. While many aircraft could be updated with a simple software fix, older models required physical computer replacements, leading to potential delays. Airlines worldwide, including in the UK, US, and Australia, experienced varying levels of disruption, with cancellations and delays impacting some flights.
John Q. Hosedrinker