Airlines 4 America (A4A) has raised serious concerns about the current February 2024 deadline issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for aircraft instrument retrofits. These upgrades are necessary to prevent potential disruptions due to interference between 5G wireless networks and radio altimeters, which measure an airplane’s altitude over ground. A4A warned that if the deadline is not extended, it could lead to widespread cancellations and delays in air travel operations. The issue was brought into focus last year when some U.S airports experienced disruptions due to worries about C-band networks interfering with altimeters on international aircrafts. The FAA estimates that the upgrade will cost airlines $26 million; however, the International Air Transport Association maintains that this is a considerable underestimate and believes that it could be up to $637 million instead.
Such costs must balance any potential safety risks posed by interferences from cellular networks in relation with radio altimeters used in aviation operations. IATA also argues that telecom companies should cover part of these costs as well as aviation industry itself. In response to such concerns, AT&T and Verizon have agreed delay implementing 5G near airports while CTIA disputes safety risks posed by interferences from these cellular networks in aviation operations. It remains unclear if the FAA will hearken A4A’s call for extending its deadline for aircraft instrument retrofits or not; however, it is clear that any decision should take into account all potential costs associated with upgrading aircrafts’ instruments against safety of passengers and efficient air travel operations before coming up with a final verdict.
The aviation industry is therefore urging the FAA to extend its deadline while considering all potential costs associated with retrofitting aircrafts against any possible safety risks posed by interferences from 5G networks in order to ensure that air travel operations remain safe and efficient. In conclusion, airlines are urging the FAA to extend its February 2024 deadline for instrument retrofits and take into account any potential costs associated with such upgrades for the aviation industry as well as telecom companies in order to ensure efficient air travel operations. The aviation industry and airlines are now looking for the FAA to extend the February 2024 deadline for aircraft instrument retrofits, taking into account all potential costs associated with this upgrade. Airlines 4 America (A4A) has raised serious concerns over the current timeline given by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), citing that these upgrades are necessary to prevent potential disruptions due to interference between 5G wireless networks and radio altimeters which measure an airplane’s altitude over ground.
Consequently, airlines urge the FAA to extend its February 2024 deadline while considering all potential costs associated with such upgrades in order to ensure efficient air travel operations.