New 5G signals roll out, could impact flights
Telecommunication companies like AT&T and Verizon powered up new 5G systems near major airports Saturday after a one-year delay of their own.
"We do think there's going to be an effect," said Secretary Pete Buttigiegwith the U.S. Department of Transportation. "It is really going to vary from airline to airline from location to location."
Aviation groups have warned for years that 5G signals could interfere with aircraft equipment, especially devices using radio waves to measure distance above the ground and which are critical when planes land in low visibility.
Buttigieg said so far, about 80% of airlines have upgraded to protect against radio inference, but those who have not will not be allowed to land in areas with low visibility. The devices needed to assist with low-visibility landings use radio waves, Buttigieg added.
"I've made it clear to the airlines that any situation where they have a route and an aircraft that they don't think are ready to fly, they need to adjust your schedule accordingly," said Buttigieg.
Most of the major U.S. airlines say they are ready. American, Southwest, Alaska, Frontier and United say all of their planes have height-measuring devices, called radio altimeters, that are protected against 5G interference.
Delta Air Lines still has about 190 smaller planes that are not protected against radio interference because they don't have upgraded altimeters due to their supplier not being able to provide them fast enough. However, Delta said they do not expect to cancel any flights because of the issue.
The companies waited to roll out the 5G signals to give airlines extra time to upgrade their equipment to minimize interference. July 1 marked one year since the delay, launching the systems in the midst of a holiday weekend where we've already seen delays nationwide.
https://www.koat.com/article/5g-signals-impact-flights/44423872