US will not extend deadline on critical 5G airplane retrofit

The Biden administration does not plan to extend a July 1 deadline for airlines to upgrade airplane altimeters, the measuring instruments that are crucial for bad-weather landings, to address potential interference from 5G wireless technology, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.

Buttigieg in a call on Tuesday told airlines that the deadline will not be moved. He said airlines had made progress but urged them to work aggressively to continue retrofitting airplanes, the Transportation Department said.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said last week it did not plan to extend the July 1 deadline before new rules take effect prohibiting certain landings in low-visibility conditions without upgraded altimeters.