Predictions that the interference would cause large-scale groundings of aircraft did not materialize last year, when carriers began rolling out new services. It then agreed to limit the power of signals around busy airports and give airlines an additional year to upgrade their aircraft.
The leader of the country’s largest pilots’ union said flight crews would be able to cope with the effects of 5G, but criticized the way radio licenses were awarded, saying it was putting aviation at unnecessary risk.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg recently told airlines that a small portion of the nation’s planes have not been retrofitted to prevent radio interference and could be disrupted.
Most major U.S. airlines say they are ready. American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Frontier Airlines and United Airlines say all their planes are equipped with an altitude-measuring device called a radio altimeter, which protects them from 5G interference.
The big exception is Delta Air Lines. Delta Air Lines said 190 of its planes, including most of its smaller planes, do not yet have upgraded altimeters because suppliers cannot provide them fast enough.
Delta Air Lines said Friday that it does not plan to cancel any flights due to the issue. The airline plans to carefully route its 190 planes to limit the risk of flights being canceled or planes being diverted from the airport if visibility is poor due to fog or low clouds.
Delta’s unmodified aircraft fleet includes several models of Airbus jets. All A220s, most A319s and A320s, and some A321s. Like all Delta Connection planes operated by Endeavor Air, Republic Airlines and SkyWest Airlines, its Boeing planes have upgraded altimeters, the airline said.
JetBlue did not respond to a request for comment, but told the Wall Street Journal it plans to refurbish 17 small Airbus planes by October, with a “limited impact” possible for several days in Boston. He said there is.
Wireless carriers like Verizon and AT&T are using a part of the radio spectrum called the C-band, near the frequencies used in radio altimeters, for their new 5G services. The Federal Communications Commission has licensed the C-band spectrum and ruled out any risk of interference, saying there is a sufficient buffer between C-band and altimeter frequencies.
After the Federal Aviation Administration sided with the airlines in opposition, wireless companies delayed the rollout of the new service. In a compromise brokered by the Biden administration, wireless carriers agreed not to power up 5G signals near about 50 busy airports. That postponement ends Saturday.
AT&T declined to comment. Verizon did not immediately respond to questions about its plans.
Mr. Buttigieg reminded the head of the industry group Airlines for America about the deadline in a letter last week, warning that only planes with modified altimeters would be allowed to land in low visibility conditions. He said more than 80% of U.S. aircraft have been refurbished, but a significant number of aircraft, including those operated by foreign airlines, remain unmodified.
“This means there may be more delays and cancellations, especially on days with bad weather and low visibility,” Buttigieg wrote. He said airlines with aircraft awaiting refurbishment will need to adjust their schedules to avoid stranding passengers.
Airlines contend that the FAA has been slow to approve standards for radio altimeter upgrades and that supply chain issues have made it difficult for manufacturers to produce enough of the devices. Nicholas Calio, the head of Airlines for America, complained about the rush to modify planes “under pressure from carriers.”
Jason Ambrosi, a Delta Air Lines pilot and president of the Airline Pilots Association, criticized the FCC for granting the 5G license without consulting the aviation community, saying, “The world’s safest aviation system has increased risk.” said. But he said “eventually we will be able to deal with the impact of 5G.”
