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5G Takes Share of the Blame for Flight Delays or Cancellations from July 1st

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5G Takes Share of the Blame for Flight Delays or Cancellations from July 1st

According to an article from The Wall Street Journal, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg recently issued a warning that airline delays and cancellations may occur starting on July 1st. The cause of these potential disruptions is related to the upgrade of altimeters on planes to avoid interference from 5G signals.

Aircraft Compliance with Altimeter Requirements for Safe Landings

Although the deadline for commercial jets to retrofit altimeters is not until February 2024, any planes uncertified to fly near C-band 5G signals will not be allowed to land in low-visibility situations after July 1st. Altimeters are essential tools for measuring an aircraft’s distance from the ground, especially during adverse weather conditions.

After acquiring mid-band holdings in the 2.5GHz band through the acquisition of Sprint, T-Mobile chose to build its mobile 5G network around this frequency range. This decision was driven by the fact that high-band signals have limited range and can be obstructed by physical objects. Consequently, Verizon and AT&T invested $68 billion in obtaining mid-band spectrum licenses during an FCC auction. However, it was later discovered that certain C-band frequencies interfere with altimeters on commercial jets.
To mitigate this issue, Verizon and AT&T agreed to refrain from using some C-band spectrum near major airports, while the airlines committed to upgrading their altimeters. According to Secretary Buttigieg, approximately 80% of domestic flights and 65% of international flights to the U.S. have altimeters unaffected by C-band 5G signals.

Despite airlines’ collective efforts to upgrade altimeters, some carriers anticipate delays and grounded flights as a result of external factors like supply-chain problems and aircraft certification challenges starting July 1st. Airlines for America, a trade association, has expressed concerns regarding the delayed response from government authorities and the ongoing global supply chain constraints. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) assures that airlines will do their best to minimize disruptions caused by this equipment-related issue.

For instance, Delta Airlines has been informed that it will not receive sufficient radio altimeters to cover its entire fleet by July 1st. As a solution, Delta will keep 190 narrow-body planes, including its Airbus A220 jets, using older altimeters away from airports that could be affected by adverse weather.

How T-Mobile’s Mid-Band Spectrum Avoids Interference with Aircraft

JetBlue plans to replace the altimeters on its 17 Airbus A220 jets in October. Consequently, the airline may experience delays or cancellations in Boston on days with limited visibility starting July 1st. On the other hand, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have indicated that their altimeters are ready to operate with C-band signals. American Airlines expects to complete all altimeter retrofits before the upcoming deadline.

It is worth noting that T-Mobile’s 2.5GHz mid-band spectrum, obtained through the Sprint acquisition, does not cause interference. However, radio signals within the C-band range, specifically 3.7GHz-4.2GHz, can disrupt aviation equipment operating in the 4.2GHz-4.4GHz range. Considering the vital role altimeters play in ensuring safe landings during poor visibility conditions, any potential discrepancies in altitude readings must be avoided.

Retrofitting altimeters is a costly and time-consuming process. According to the IATA, airlines are estimated to spend close to $638 million on replacing altimeters across their fleets.

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