Aircraft control software

Version 3 of the Damoda ground control station software included a wind speed readout, but did not actively alert the pilot if the wind speed limit was exceeded. This increased the risk that a pilot would fail to identify a limit exceedance and continue a show into unsafe conditions.

Response By Damoda Intelligent Control Technology Co., Ltd

On 7 April 2026, DAMODA advised the ATSB that the wind speed warning functionality had been developed and it was subsequently released in a software update on April 20. Following the release of the software update, they advised that the functionality used a 3-stage alert that will trigger pop-ups at increasing wind speed thresholds and are required to be acknowledged by the pilot.

ATSB comment

The ATSB acknowledges the manufacturer's response to the issue and identifies that the new system will address the issue by drawing pilots' attention to deteriorating wind conditions and wind speed limit exceedances, should they occur. This will significantly increase the likelihood that the pilots will identify wind speed limit exceedances and action them appropriately.

DAMODA advised the ATSB that a software release including the wind speed monitoring function will be released on April 20. The wind speed warning function will trigger a pop-up alert when wind exceeds the safe limit, significantly increasing the pilot's opportunity to identify limit exceedances. The ATSB has therefore updated status of the safety issue to Closed - Adequately addressed.