Aviation Industry Seeks 5G Deadline Extension

Supply chain issues have made it impossible for air carriers to meet retrofitting deadlines, a coalition of stakeholders told Federal officials.

Meg Godlewski

Monday, November 21, 2022 at 11:58 AM ET

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In January, wireless carriers began broadcasting in the 5G C-band to improve network speed. [File photo: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

A coalition of major aviation stakeholders is requesting an extension to the deadlines (December 2022 and July 2023) for retrofitting aircraft against 5G C-band interference, citing insurmountable supply chain challenges.
5G C-band signals interfere with aircraft radio altimeters, which are crucial for safe landings and other critical systems, posing a significant safety hazard, particularly in low visibility conditions.
Despite initial stop-gap measures by wireless companies, interference incidents continue to be documented, leading the aviation industry to express concern that government agencies are not adequately aligned to resolve these ongoing safety issues.

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The end of the year brings the deadline for air carriers to retrofit their fleets to protect them from interference from 5G C-band wireless service. According to a coalition of top aviation stakeholders, however, supply chain challenges have made it impossible for the industry to meet that deadline.

The group of nearly two dozen aviation companies and organizations, which includes Embraer, Boeing, Airbus, and the International Air Transport Association, is asking for an extension of the December 2022 deadline for smaller regional aircraft and July 2023 for large transport aircraft.