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New Delhi: More than 350 aircraft have been grounded in India for next two-three, impacting the airline services in India an abroad. Most of these aircraft belong to IndiGo and Air India Group. Flights are expected to return to normal next Monday or Tuesday after the upgrades are completed.
The decision has been taken after Airbus warned that intense solar radiation might impact flight control systems in A320 aircraft, India, Air India, and Air India Express are preparing for major flight disruptions across the country and abroad. Over 6,000 flights are likely to be impacted across the globe.
"Analysis of a recent event involving an A320 Family aircraft has revealed that intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls. Airbus has consequently identified a significant number of A320 Family aircraft currently in-service which may be impacted. Airbus has worked proactively with the aviation authorities to request immediate precautionary action from operators via an Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) in order to implement the available software and/or hardware protection, and ensure the fleet is safe to fly. This AOT will be reflected in an Emergency Airworthiness Directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)," Airbus wrote in a statement.
It may be noted that around 560 A320 aircraft are operated in India. Aviation regulators and airlines have said the entire process is necessary to strengthen safety. Issuing a statement on Saturday, IndiGo wrote, “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.”
"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 Express said in its statement.
Air India said,"Air India regrets any inconvenience this may cause to passengers till the reset is carried out across the fleet".
Importantly, A320 jets like A319s, A320ceo/neos and A321ceo/neos are important part of of India’s domestic aviation network. This suggest thatv short spell of groundings of these aiecraft may impact thousands of passengers in daily basis. As per the caution issued by the EASA, if malfunction is not corrected on time, the same may lead to uncommanded elevator movements which may exceed structural limits of the aircraft.
