When checking for an air data computer fault, which steps would you take?

• A. Cross-check with standby air data; verify pitot/static lines; reselect feeds; follow ECAM/QRH for fault isolation.
• B. Shut down and restart the entire electrical system in flight.
• C. Ignore the fault and continue to destination.
• D. Rely solely on the captain’s judgment and omit checks.

Answer: (A)

When air data reliability is in question, rely on redundancy and follow the published procedures to isolate the fault. Start by cross-checking the primary air data with the standby air data to see if the discrepancy is consistent across sources. This helps determine whether the issue is with the air data system as a whole or with a specific input path. Then inspect the pitot and static lines and connections for blockages, leaks, or icing, and ensure they’re correctly routed and free of damage. Reselecting the feeds—cycling the data inputs to the air data computers—helps reset the data paths and can clear transitory faults or reveal whether a particular computer or bus is at fault. After these steps, consult the ECAM/QRH fault isolation guidance to identify exactly which component or data path is affected and to decide the appropriate action, such as using the standby data if needed or continuing with the standard procedures for limited air data.

This approach uses redundancy, confirms data integrity, and follows the aircraft’s approved failure procedures, which is essential for maintaining safe operation. Skipping checks, performing a full electrical reset in flight, ignoring the fault, or relying solely on a captain’s judgment without following the procedures would bypass these safeguards and could compromise safety.