Vietnam airlines complete Airbus software update after emergency order

The updates to the ELAC flight-control computer were finished early on Sunday, several hours before a 6:59 am local-time deadline set by Airbus and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), CAAV said. 

Vietnam Airlines completed updates on 19 A320/A321 aircraft at about 1:00 am, while VietJet finished its fleet around 3:00 am, it added.

EASA issued an emergency airworthiness directive late on Friday requiring operators of Airbus A319, A320 and A321 jets to update or replace ELAC units because the existing software could produce incorrect data under high solar-radiation conditions.

CAAV said 81 aircraft operated by the two carriers were subject to the update. 

Five ELAC units were replaced using hardware taken from grounded aircraft undergoing Pratt & Whitney PW1100 engine work.

Both airlines said they activated overnight technical procedures and adjusted flight schedules to meet the deadline. 

Operations returned to normal on Sunday, CAAV said.