United States will not extend the deadline for critical 5G aeroplane retrofitting

US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that the Biden administration will not extend the July 1 deadline for US airlines to upgrade their altimeters, critical instruments for safe landings in bad weather conditions, to avoid potential interference from 5G wireless technology. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that it would not extend the deadline, while urging airlines to accelerate retrofitting efforts. Although some airlines requested an extension, Buttigieg stressed that the deadline will not change. The International Air Transport Association warned that the supply chain issues could prevent all aircraft from being upgraded by the deadline, disrupting operations during the summer travel season. Concerns over 5G service interfering with altimeters caused brief disruptions at some US airports last year, leading to voluntary agreements by Verizon and AT&T to delay C-Band 5G usage until July 1, 2022. The FAA has proposed seven airworthiness directives for Boeing aircraft due to the potential for 5G C-band interference, which impact 4,800 US registered airplanes and 14,600 globally.