Airbus Says Most of Its Recalled 6,000 A320 Jets Now Modified (reuters.com)
- Reference: 0180251289
- News link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/25/12/01/1512213/airbus-says-most-of-its-recalled-6000-a320-jets-now-modified
- Source link: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/airbus-narrows-software-crisis-airlines-ride-out-a320-recall-2025-12-01/
The fix involved reverting to an earlier version of software that controls nose angle, uploaded via cable from a portable device called a data loader. Some older A320 jets will need entirely new computers rather than a simple software reset, raising questions about how long those aircraft will remain grounded amid global chip shortages.
Reuters separately [3]reported on Monday that Airbus had discovered an industrial quality issue affecting metal panels of a "limited" number of A320-family aircraft. The company told the publication that it had "identified" and "contained" the source of the issue and that "all newly produced panels conform to all requirements."
[1] https://news.slashdot.org/story/25/11/29/0515215/airbus-issues-major-a320-recall-threatening-global-flight-disruption
[2] https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/airbus-narrows-software-crisis-airlines-ride-out-a320-recall-2025-12-01/
[3] https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/airbus-faces-new-quality-problem-dozens-a320-jets-sources-say-2025-12-01/
Love it when the system works (Score:2)
Nice video on YT describing the details: [1]https://youtu.be/EqH7KsaA_RE?s... [youtu.be]
[1] https://youtu.be/EqH7KsaA_RE?si=of603XvD9-UgrQAb
Re: (Score:2)
Interesting that the "EMI hardening" is a software/firmware error correction feature and not a physical shielding around the hardware like on military planes.
Re: (Score:2)
I would guess weight is more of a consideration for consumer passenger airplanes than military ones. After all, airlines do not have magazines anymore to save weight.
New hardware? (Score:3)
FTA:
"Some older A320 jets will need entirely new computers rather than a simple software reset, raising questions about how long those aircraft will remain grounded amid global chip shortages."
Given the "update" is back to an older version of the software wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to wait for an update to the latest code rather than ripping out computers to replace with older hardware which will have to taken out again and re-upgraded when the fix eventually does come out?
Re: (Score:2)
It might be a case of the specific version of software they want to install to fix the issue does not work with older hardware, so any aircraft that are still on it need to up upgraded. It's not uncommon for the hardware upgrade to be cheaper and faster than trying to backport the fix and fully qualify that software, especially as the aircraft can't be used until it is done.
Great Job (Score:3)
It's been, what, a week, and they got 6000 jets through maintenance during a very busy holiday travel season?
That speaks to fantastic logistics. There are anonymous folks out there who did a great job and deserve a ridiculously generous Christmas Bonus. :gallant bow:
Re: (Score:2)
Well it was a busy holiday season for the US. The rest of the world view Thanksgiving as a Thursday. American carriers were busy for sure.
Good for Airbus (Score:4, Funny)
Airbus scenario:
- Airbus: "Hey, there might be a problem, let's recall 6000 airplanes."
Boeing Scenario:
FCC: Hey, one of your plane fell down.
Boeing: Fucking thrid world pilots don't know how to fly.
FCC: Hey, one of your plane fell down once again.
Boeing: Hmmm? What?
FCC: We ground all of your planes
Boeing: Ok, we will do a recall. See?
I'll take Airbus scenario any day.
Re: (Score:2)
They have given us a bit of a masterclass in engineering here. Identified a rare but important issue, took decisive action to ensure safety, and engineered a fix very quickly to get the aircraft back into service.
Re: (Score:2)
> They have given us a bit of a masterclass in engineering here. Identified a rare but important issue, took decisive action to ensure safety, and engineered a fix very quickly to get the aircraft back into service.
Not to mention a bit of a masterclass in integrity, ethics, and corporate responsibility.
Boeing should take a lesson here: as soon as you've identified a serious safety issue, ground your birds and fix the problem. I can't help thinking that at Boeing even their engineering problems stem more from moral, ethical and cultural deficits than from a lack of design competence.