Delta Air Lines announced on Thursday that it has completed upgrading its fleet to protect its equipment from interference caused by 5G wireless signals. This upgrade ensures that flights will not be disrupted during low visibility conditions.
The airline confirmed that all its planes currently in use are equipped with radio altimeters that are protected against interference. According to a Delta spokesman, this upgrade means that no Delta aircraft will be affected by weather-related constraints.
In late June, approximately 190 out of Delta’s 900 planes did not have the upgraded altimeters. These altimeters use radio signals to accurately measure the height of a plane above the ground. While waiting for new parts from a supplier, Delta considered rerouting these planes to avoid low-visibility situations. However, the airline stated that it did not experience any significant issues with the altimeters during the summer.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg urged airlines to retrofit planes before the summer travel season, and most airlines complied. Delta, based in Atlanta, was the only major U.S. carrier that missed the July 1 deadline to upgrade all altimeters before AT&T, Verizon, and other wireless carriers boosted the power of their C-Band, 5G signals. Despite concerns, flight disruptions did not occur.
Some aviation experts and the Federal Aviation Administration believe that C-Band signals are too close to the frequencies used by radio altimeters. However, the Federal Communications Commission, which granted 5G licenses to the wireless companies, has stated that there is no risk of interference.
