Potential 5G Interference Could Exacerbate Air Travel Difficulties Starting This Weekend

Air travelers, already experiencing a myriad of weather-induced flight delays this week, may face additional complications beginning Saturday due to the scheduled activation of new 5G systems near prominent airports.

Aviation specialists have long cautioned that 5G transmissions could cause disturbances with vital aircraft equipment, particularly radio-based devices crucial for calculating the altitude above ground during low-visibility landings.

Despite dire predictions of widespread flight groundings due to interference, no such incidents occurred last year when telecom firms initiated the new service. In response, these companies agreed to constrain their signal power in high-traffic airport vicinities, providing airlines with an additional year to upgrade their aircraft.

The head of the country’s most extensive pilots’ union acknowledged that flight crews could manage the 5G impact but criticized the distribution of wireless licenses, asserting it added unnecessary risk to aviation.

Pete Buttigieg, the Transportation Secretary, recently indicated to airlines that possible flight disturbances could arise due to a minor fraction of the national fleet being unequipped to guard against radio disruption.

However, most prominent U.S. airlines, including American, Southwest, Alaska, Frontier, and United, assert that all of their aircraft are equipped with radio altimeters that are immune to 5G interference.

Delta Air Lines is the major outlier, revealing that 190 of its aircraft, mostly smaller models, have yet to receive upgraded altimeters due to supplier limitations. Regardless, Delta does not anticipate any flight cancellations due to this issue, planning to strategically route these aircraft to minimize potential disruptions.

Specific Airbus jet models operated by Delta, including all A220s, most A319s and A320s, and some A321s, are yet to be retrofitted. Delta’s Boeing jets and all Delta Connection planes, operated by Endeavor Air, Republic Airways, and SkyWest Airlines, have received the necessary upgrades.

JetBlue, while not responding to direct inquiries, informed The Wall Street Journal that it plans to retrofit 17 smaller Airbus jets by October, with potential “limited impact” in Boston on certain days.

For their new 5G service, Verizon and AT&T, among other wireless carriers, utilize a section of the radio spectrum named C-Band, adjacent to frequencies used by radio altimeters. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted these licenses for the C-Band spectrum, dismissing potential interference concerns by citing a sufficient buffer between C-Band and altimeter frequencies.

Following objections by the Federal Aviation Administration in support of airlines, the wireless companies delayed their service rollout. A subsequent agreement, mediated by the Biden administration, saw wireless carriers consent to keep 5G signals turned off near about 50 busy airports, a delay set to end on Saturday.

Verizon and AT&T have yet to comment on their respective plans.

Buttigieg highlighted this impending deadline in a letter to the Airlines for America trade group leader last week, cautioning that only aircraft with upgraded altimeters would be permitted to land under low-visibility conditions. Despite over 80% of the U.S. fleet being retrofitted, a significant number of aircraft, including many foreign airlines, are still unupgraded.

Buttigieg suggested airlines with aircraft awaiting retrofitting should modify their schedules to prevent passenger inconvenience during adverse weather conditions, which could lead to increased delays and cancellations.

Airlines claim that the FAA’s sluggish approval of upgrading standards for radio altimeters and supply chain issues impeding manufacturers have added to the difficulties. Nicholas Calio, the Airlines for America leader, criticized the hurried push to modify aircraft “under telecommunications companies’ pressure.”

Jason Ambrosi, a Delta pilot and the Air Line Pilots Association president, blamed the FCC for issuing 5G licenses without involving aviation stakeholders, thereby “increasing risk in the world’s safest aviation system.” However, he remains confident that they will effectively manage the 5G impacts.

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More about 5G interference

• 5G wireless signals and aviation concerns – An article discussing the concerns and potential disruptions caused by 5G signals near airports.
• FAA regulations on 5G interference – Official information from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding regulations and measures taken to address 5G interference.
• Airline preparations for 5G interference – Details about how major U.S. airlines have prepared their aircraft to mitigate the potential impact of 5G interference.
• Wireless carriers’ agreement with aviation authorities – An article discussing the agreement reached between wireless carriers and aviation authorities to delay 5G rollout near busy airports.
• Challenges faced by Delta Air Lines – Information about Delta Air Lines’ challenges in retrofitting altimeters and their plans to manage potential disruptions caused by 5G interference.