5G Upgrade Could Cause Major Flight Delays Starting This Weekend
The travel industry is facing a massive upheaval starting this weekend if airlines don't act fast to upgrade their aircraft. Starting July 1, wireless network companies across the country will increase their 5G C-band signal strength in over 100 airports nationwide. This expansion could potentially interfere with some older planes' radio altimeters, causing delays as the number of usable aircraft decreases.
Airlines have had since January 2022 to make the necessary changes to their on-board technology. Radio altimeters are responsible for measuring airplanes' distance from the ground; as a result, interference in their proper operation could be disastrous for planes landing in low visibility conditions.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke about the risk of meltdown in a June 23 interview with The Wall Street Journal. “There’s a real risk of delays or cancellations,” Buttigieg said. “This represents one of the biggest—probably the biggest—foreseeable problem affecting performance this summer.”
Buttigieg explained that over 80 percent of domestic airlines and approximately 65 percent of international planes have already retrofitted their altimeters to withstand the increased 5G signals. United and Southwest Airlines have confirmed that their mainline fleets are ready to fly ahead of the July 1 deadline, while American Airlines told WSJ that its retrofits will be completed just in time by the end of June. Airlines like Delta and Jet Blue, meanwhile, are projected to miss the date due to supply chain issues as they finish upgrading the last of their fleet.
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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will bar pilots from landing non-updated planes in low visibility after July 1. The hard and final deadline for airlines to finish retrofitting their radio altimeters is in February 2024.
If you plan to fly in the coming weeks, be sure to follow your flight's status closely in case your plane is affected.