US will not extend deadline on critical 5G airplane retrofit

The Biden administration does not plan to extend a July 1 deadline for airlines to upgrade airplane altimeters, the measuring instruments that are crucial for bad-weather landings, to address potential interference from 5G wireless technology, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. Buttigieg in a call on Tuesday told airlines that the deadline will not be moved. He said airlines had made progress, but urged them to work aggressively to continue retrofitting airplanes, the Transportation Department said. The FAA said last week it did not plan to extend the July 1 deadline before new rules take effect prohibiting certain landings in low-visibility conditions without upgraded altimeters. Tuesday was the first time in recent months Buttigieg has weighed in on the July 1 date after some airlines pressed hard for a deadline extension. The IATA, which represents more than 100 carriers that fly to the United States, said on Tuesday, "Supply chain issues make it unlikely that all aircraft can be upgraded by the 1 July deadline, threatening operational disruptions during the peak northern summer travel season." Concerns that 5G service could interfere with airplane altimeters, which measure a plane's height above the ground, led to brief disruptions at some US airports last year as international carriers canceled some flights. Last year, Verizon and AT&T voluntarily agreed to delay some C-Band 5G usage until July 1 as air carriers worked to retrofit airplane altimeters. IATA said Tuesday that "more is needed" and said many airlines will have to retrofit most of their aircraft twice in just five years.<br/>