Picture courtesy of Aero Time

 

Airbus has announced immediate disruptions to flights after discovering that intense solar radiation could corrupt crucial flight control data. The issue affects around 6,000 planes, roughly half of Airbus's global fleet. While many aircraft will require a simple software update, others need more extensive modifications, leading to potential flight cancellations and delays.

 

The problem emerged after a JetBlue Airways A320 made an emergency landing in Florida on 30 October, with at least 15 injuries reported. The radiation impact affects the A320 series, including models A318, A319, and A321. 5,100 planes can resolve the issue with a software update, but older models will require new hardware, leading to further service disruptions.

 

Airbus has apologised for the inconvenience, and airlines like Wizz Air and Air India are already planning necessary updates. EasyJet expects disruptions and is coordinating communication with passengers. Meanwhile, British Airways faces minimal impact. The UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued a warning about potential flight groundings until they apply updates.

 

The problem lies in the ELAC computer system, responsible for controlling key flight surfaces. High-altitude radiation affects these systems, which are critical in managing the aircraft's flight dynamics. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued an emergency directive, mandating ELAC replacements on impacted planes before resuming passenger services.

 

"Fly by wire" technology, which allows computers to interpret pilot commands without a mechanical link, underscores the importance of addressing these software vulnerabilities. Airbus is urging airlines to take immediate action to ensure safety through software and hardware protections, reported BBC.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Intense solar radiation threatens data integrity on 6,000 Airbus planes.
• Software updates and hardware changes will cause global flight disruptions.
• Passengers advised to check with airlines for potential delays or cancellations.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-11-29

 

 

 

Shaky cabins now fried by radiation !

Time to dust off those  DC 3's,  F 27's and 

 Flying Pigs !

31 minutes ago, Jim Blue said:

Shaky cabins now fried by radiation !

Time to dust off those  DC 3's,  F 27's and 

 Flying Pigs !

Or give control back to the pilots not the computers.

Is high altitude radiation a new thing?

 

Of course NOT!  What dumbass aircraft designer failed to take into consideration the effects of solar radiation on high altitude planes.

 

Jeez.......

2 hours ago, Tug said:

Or give control back to the pilots not the computers.

And who do you think flies the plane now? Autopilot?

Airbus provides flight assistance just like Boeing or Embraer or any other modern jet maker. The problem is that like pilots, the flight computer gets information from the sensors and that can lead to undesired effects if data is flawed.

Those planes have a safe envelope, or limits of parameters within which plane can help offset the tasks of pilot, there's extended envelope where plane can be flown manually, and then there are edges of that, which, if crossed, could cause aircraft for example to stall or break apart. That is where the Airbus planes take over and get the plane back within the safe envelope. Kind of like safety systems in your car, which are a copy of what's in the aircraft.

 

Another thing which is copied to cars now from aircraft is fly by wire, but that has not much if anything to do with the issue above. Fly by wire simply means that the flight controls are not physically connected to the flight surfaces, but rather operate like a computer game - you move joystick, to tell computer which way you want to go, and flight computer moves those surfaces for you to make plane go where you want it to go. But this has nothing to do with faulty inputs from ELAC.

7 hours ago, webfact said:

..... after discovering that intense solar radiation could corrupt crucial flight control data.

If this is a danger to electronic equipment, surely it's also dangerous to humans flying in the aircraft?

Wonder how many Airbus pilots are dying from cancer?

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

If this is a danger to electronic equipment, surely it's also dangerous to humans flying in the aircraft?

Wonder how many Airbus pilots are dying from cancer?

How Dangerous Is It?

 

Average passenger: No measurable risk. You get more radiation from eating 50–100 bananas or sleeping next to someone for a year (both give ~0.1 mSv).

 

Frequent business traveller (50+ long-haul/year): Tiny increase — less than living in Denver vs. Miami because of altitude.

 

Long-haul pilots & cabin crew: Real occupational risk — comparable to mild-to-moderate smoking or working in a granite quarry.

Airlines monitor doses, rotate polar routes, and pregnant crew are immediately removed from flying.

So yes — it can cause cancer, but for 99.9 % of passengers the extra risk is statistically invisible. For the people who live at 39,000 ft, it is the single biggest radiation hazard they face in life — and the industry treats it accordingly.

1 hour ago, mikeymike100 said:

How Dangerous Is It?

 

...or sleeping next to someone for a year (both give ~0.1 mSv).

I'm absolutely sure my wife doesn't give off that much! (In a year...)