All articles tagged with #a320
Airbus has reduced its plane delivery target for 2023 from 820 to around 790 due to a fuselage panel quality issue on its A320 aircraft, affecting hundreds of jets and prompting inspections and software updates, but the company maintains its financial outlook despite the setbacks.
Airbus has reduced its delivery targets for the A320 aircraft due to ongoing problems with the aircraft, impacting its production schedule and commitments.
Airbus is inspecting a limited number of A320 aircraft due to a supplier quality issue with metal panels, following recent widespread grounding of planes for a software update related to solar radiation interference. The issue is not considered an immediate safety threat, and the inspection process aims to identify affected aircraft, with the impact on repairs and timelines still unclear.
Airbus shares dropped up to 10% after discovering a quality issue with fuselage panels on dozens of A320 aircraft, leading to delays in deliveries but no immediate impact on in-service planes. The company has identified and contained the problem, and the stock decline reflects investor concern over the manufacturing flaw amid recent software-related disruptions affecting the fleet.
The captain and copilot of a Batik Air A320 flight from Kendari to Jakarta fell asleep for 28 minutes during the flight, with both pilots taking turns napping while the other communicated with air traffic controllers. The incident was attributed to pilot fatigue, with the copilot not having rested sufficiently the night before. The airline stated it operates with an adequate rest policy and is committed to implementing safety recommendations, while the report made safety recommendations regarding checking pilots' physical and mental conditions and carrying out cockpit checks.
RTX Corp.'s Pratt & Whitney unit has expanded the scope of required engine checks, affecting nearly its entire fleet of turbines powering Airbus A320 planes. Around 3,000 Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines will be removed over the next three years to check for potentially flawed components made from contaminated metal powder. This will result in about 350 aircraft being parked per year through 2026 on average, with the figure peaking at about 650 planes in the first half of 2024. The engine troubles add to the challenges faced by airlines as they work to rebuild operations post-pandemic. RTX also cut its full-year sales outlook and expects a financial hit of up to $3.5 billion over the next several years.