Airlines

The new 5G Deadline Can Cause Flight Delays in the US from July

As the deadline for the deployment of 5G technology comes closer, airlines in the US are preparing for unexpected flight delays. According to a report, US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg issued a warning on Friday on probable delays and cancellations for flights departing before radio altimeters have been upgraded to account for potential 5G C-Band interference.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) believes that radio wave emitters used by passenger jets to calculate their distance from the ground, which pilots rely on when landing in bad visibility, may be affected by 5G C-band emissions.

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Airline passenger jets won’t be permitted to land in certain low-visibility conditions unless they have been authorized for operation around C-band 5G signals by July 1st, even though airlines aren’t technically obligated to install the new equipment until February 2024.

His warning comes just before July 1 when AT&T, Verizon, and other carriers will be free to increase the strength of their 5G signals. More than 80% of the domestic fleet that serves U.S. airports, according to Mr. Buttigieg, has undergone a refit, but there are still “a significant number of aircraft still awaiting retrofit, including many operated by foreign air carriers.”

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According to American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Frontier Airlines, all of their aircraft have been retrofitted, and they don’t anticipate any issues. JetBlue and Delta are two airlines that have claimed that not all of their aircraft have received updates. Around 190 of Delta Air Lines’ fleet of more than 900 planes do not yet have updated radio altimeters, the airline said.

In the meantime, a number of airlines have complained to the government that supply-chain issues are making it difficult for them to obtain the tools needed to refit planes.

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Airlines

Air India Express Aircraft Engine Part Falls Outside Delhi Airport; DGCA Orders Probe

Air India Express flight skids off runway while landing at Kochi airport

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an inquiry following reports that metal fragments were discovered at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after an Air India Express flight made an emergency landing on Monday evening.

The emergency landing was prompted by a detected engine fault, but fortunately, the landing was executed safely without any injuries to the passengers.

The situation began when crew members of the Air India Express flight reported an engine issue, leading to the emergency landing. The DGCA has confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway and has directed that the aircraft undergo a comprehensive safety inspection.

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The discovery of metal debris outside the airport has raised concerns, prompting the DGCA to probe whether these fragments are linked to the aircraft involved in the emergency landing. Authorities are particularly focused on whether the metal pieces, which were found near the airport, originated from the same Air India Express flight that experienced engine trouble.

While preliminary assessments suggest that the debris could be a broken blade from an aircraft engine, the exact source remains unconfirmed. The airline has yet to verify if the metal fragments are from their aircraft.

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The Delhi Police, working in conjunction with the DGCA, have initiated their own investigation to determine the origin of the metal pieces. A technical team is set to analyze whether the fragments are associated with the aircraft in question. As the investigation continues, a case has been filed with the airport authority to address the matter.