Airbus planes must now be checked for corrosion around their internet antennas

The US aviation regulator is requiring new inspections for corrosion and cracks on broadband antenna plates across many Airbus aircraft models. This means airlines must regularly check a specific part of their planes that connects to the internet, and fix any issues they find.

A small part on an airplane can cause big problems. Corrosion and cracks on an antenna plate might seem minor, but they can affect structural integrity or even lead to larger failures if not caught. This new rule means airlines now have a mandatory, repetitive task to prevent a known issue from becoming a safety hazard.