The Biden administration is standing firm on its decision not to extend the July 1 deadline for airlines to upgrade their airplane altimeters to address potential interference from 5G wireless technology. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg made the announcement during a call with airline representatives last Tuesday. Despite some airlines pushing for a deadline extension, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated last week that it will not prolong the July 1 deadline for new rules, which prohibits certain landings in low-visibility conditions without upgraded altimeters.
The measuring instruments, known as altimeters, are crucial for bad-weather landings. Concerns about potential interference from 5G service prompted brief disruptions at some US airports last year as international carriers canceled some flights. Verizon and AT&T voluntarily agreed to delay some C-Band 5G usage until July 1 last year as air carriers worked to retrofit airplane altimeters.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently expressed concern that supply chain issues make it unlikely that all aircraft can be upgraded by the deadline, potentially causing operational disruptions during the peak northern summer travel season. According to IATA, many airlines will have to retrofit most of their aircraft twice in just five years, as “more is needed” to address aviation safety concerns.
The FAA on Tuesday proposed seven airworthiness directives for many Boeing aircraft due to the potential for 5G C-band interference. The proposed directives impact 4,800 US-registered airplanes and 14,600 worldwide, requiring revising aircraft flight manuals by June 30 to prohibit some landings and include specific operating procedures for calculating landing distances and certain approaches when in the presence of 5G C-band interference. Boeing stated that it is working with suppliers, regulators, airlines, and telecom companies to mitigate operational restrictions where possible.