A320
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Total 25000
Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface; Confusion; Distraction; Workload; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew FLC Overrode Automation; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft
We experienced two known software anomalies on this flight that without pilot intervention could have caused a deviation. On arrival verification during descent; we discovered that an erroneous routing was entered by the FMC that would have caused a 110 [degree] turn off course from way point GROHL for Runway 6L CLE. This was caused by the FMC software entering an approach transition due to a common arrival fix. While we were correcting this error by deleting the approach via; we discovered the FMC had computed an incorrect descent path for a crossing restriction at JANYS. The FMC and displays erroneously showed the crossing restriction would be made while the computed path would have crossed the fix high. This was corrected by receiving an amended ATC clearance deleting the crossing restriction. These are both known FMC software anomalies and we have received training on the software faults and the potential to cause route and altitude deviations. There is an F4 message on every flight release indicating the potential for the erroneous path computation to cause an altitude deviation. These software faults have existed for years and have caused many altitude and route deviations. We have been informed that Airbus software faults will be corrected in a future software update. I am submitting this ASAP because these software faults continue to degrade safety by continuing to cause potential route and altitude deviations and unnecessarily distracting pilots by increasing workload. The Airbus software should be updated ASAP!
A320-200 Captain reported ongoing software problems that cause navigation and altitude deviations.