Airbus have been struggling for some time to manage the vast amounts of data relating to the A320 family the format of which has not changed for decades and was managed by technology of a similar era. The only option available to them as aircraft get more and more complex (A380/A350) was to move to a new more managable electronic format (XML)
ravfooty, grateful for the detailed explanation. If the new format is fully implemented into the A320 ECAM, then I am all for it. With the advent of the NEO, the A320 may have a good deal of life in it yet and it makes economic sense to effect the changes now. Hopefully it will get the the stage where, in both abnormal/emergency situations, the crew can just work off the ECAM without cross-referencing the paper volumes, save (maybe) LDG PROC and a few paper checklists. Or am I too optimistic for that to happen ? What are Airbus's plans for the A320 in this regard ?