Premium 113 – CYBER ATTACKS AND COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT

Advanced aircraft, run by sophisticated electronics, provide a number of benefits. Aircraft using fly be wire systems (for example) are more efficient and by eliminating traditional hydraulic and mechanical controls, also save weight and fuel burn.

E-enabled aircraft allow for extensive performance tracking and maintenance information to be sent to the ground automatically. The downside is that this data exchange potentially opens aircraft systems to the threat of cyber-attack using computer viruses or even malware that might enable remote access to flight control systems. How large is that risk really? Is it something the aviation industry should be concerned with? What needs to be done to close any gaps?