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The rollout of 5G has been a concern for airports and airlines, with worries about interference with aircraft altimeters and the potential for flight disruptions, particularly during low-visibility landings. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US has been working with airlines and wireless providers to ensure safe coexistence between 5G and flight operations. In January 2022, the FAA released a list of 50 airports that would have buffer zones when wireless companies activated 5G C-band services. Airports have been urging the government to intervene and delay 5G deployment due to concerns about disruptions to passenger and cargo traffic. The FAA set a deadline of July 1, 2023, for airlines to upgrade airplane altimeters, and by the end of September 2023, the risk of 5G interference was mitigated.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airports with 5G Buffers | 50 |
| Airports losing low-visibility approach capability | 90 |
| Date 5G services launched in 46 markets in the US | January 19, 2022 |
| Date by which airlines had to upgrade airplane altimeters | July 1, 2023 |
| Date by which the risk of 5G interference was mitigated | September 2023 |
| Carriers with the highest 5G availability around US airports | T-Mobile |
| Airports with the highest T-Mobile 5G availability | Harry Reid International in Las Vegas |
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What You'll Learn
Airports urge the government to delay 5G deployment
In January 2022, airports across the United States urged the federal government to intervene and delay the deployment of 5G wireless telecommunications systems near airports. The aviation industry raised concerns about significant disruptions to passenger and air cargo traffic due to potential interference from 5G signals. Major international carriers began cancelling flights and cargo shipments as they feared they would not be able to safely land their aircraft at US airports. This resulted in delays, diversions, and cancellations for passengers and shippers until these safety issues were resolved.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the aviation sector worked together to ensure that radio signals from 5G telecommunications systems could coexist safely with flight operations in the United States. The FAA designated 50 airports that would have buffer zones to reduce interference, including New York City's LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark Liberty, O'Hare and Midway in Chicago, and Dallas/Fort Worth International. Telecom companies also agreed to delay the deployment for two weeks and make changes to limit potential interference through early July.
Despite these efforts, airports continued to urge the Biden Administration to delay the expansion of 5G telecommunications capabilities, citing the need for sufficient operational mitigations to avoid disastrous disruptions. They argued that the entire aviation system was about to be adversely impacted by the poorly planned and coordinated expansion of 5G services in and around airports. ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke called on the administration to take action, expressing concerns about the impacts on travelers, shippers, and communities due to uncertainty surrounding new operations and flight restrictions.
The airline industry leaders, including chief executives of major airlines, sent a letter to the Biden administration, requesting that 5G be implemented everywhere except within approximately 2 miles of airport runways as defined by the FAA. They warned that the deployment of new 5G technology could lead to the grounding of flights, potentially stranding tens of thousands of Americans overseas and causing chaos for US flights.
The concerns raised by the aviation industry led to wireless telecom giants AT&T and Verizon delaying the activation of some 5G masts near airports. AT&T expressed frustration with the FAA's handling of the situation, stating that nearly 40 countries had safely deployed 5G technology without disrupting aviation services. Verizon also voluntarily limited its 5G network around airports. These delays and mitigations provided partial solutions to the issues, but airports continued to urge the government to address the remaining concerns and ensure the safe deployment of 5G technology in the vicinity of airports.
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5G interference with aircraft altimeters
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been working with the aviation sector and wireless providers to ensure that radio signals from newly activated wireless telecommunications systems can coexist safely with flight operations in the United States. The FAA has determined that 5G services launched in 46 markets on 19 January 2022, using frequencies in a radio spectrum called the C-band, which can be close to those used by radio altimeters—an important piece of safety equipment in aircraft.
Radio altimeter interference from 5G signals can result in the loss of radar altitude information or, in the worst-case scenario, incorrect radar altitude information being generated. This interference could directly affect 15,700 flight arrivals annually in the United States alone. There have been fatal accidents associated with incorrect radar altitude readings, including the crash of Turkish Airlines Flight 1951 in Amsterdam in 2009.
To address this issue, the FAA set a deadline for airlines to upgrade airplane altimeters by 1 July 2023, just before new rules prohibiting certain landings in low-visibility conditions without upgraded altimeters. The FAA also reached a voluntary agreement with Verizon and AT&T to delay some C-band and 5G usage until this date to allow airlines time to retrofit aircraft altimeters and ensure they will not face interference. As of September 2023, the entire U.S. airline fleet has upgraded its equipment, and the risk of 5G interference has been mitigated.
In the long term, a solution may involve new radar altimeter designs that meet new standards currently under development. In the meantime, airlines will retrofit aircraft or radar altimeters with filters to achieve a high interference tolerance level ("Group 4" performance). Wireless companies will continue to voluntarily limit their deployments and operations to minimize the possibility of interference through 1 January 2028.
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Airlines upgrade airplane altimeters
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been working with the aviation sector and wireless providers to ensure that radio signals from newly activated wireless telecommunications systems can coexist safely with flight operations in the United States. The FAA has determined that 5G services launched in 46 markets on January 19, 2022, using frequencies in a radio spectrum called the C-band, which can interfere with radio altimeters, an important piece of safety equipment in aircraft. Radio altimeters provide highly accurate information about an aircraft's height above the ground, and data from these altimeters informs other safety equipment on the plane, including navigation instruments, terrain awareness, and collision-avoidance systems.
To address this issue, the FAA proposed an Airworthiness Directive (AD) that would require aircraft in the United States after February 1, 2024, to be equipped with 5G C-Band-tolerant radio altimeters or install acceptable radio frequency filters. The FAA also issued a deadline for airlines to upgrade airplane altimeters by July 1, 2023, which went into effect just before new rules prohibiting certain landings in low-visibility conditions without upgraded altimeters. This deadline was set to align with a voluntary agreement reached between the FAA and Verizon and AT&T to delay some C-Band and 5G usage until July 1, 2023, to allow airlines time to retrofit aircraft altimeters and ensure they will not face interference.
By the end of September 2023, the entire U.S. airline fleet had upgraded their equipment, and the risk of 5G interference was mitigated. This successful collaboration between the aviation and telecommunication industries has resulted in the safe coexistence of 5G C-Band and aviation operations, with minimized impacts on both industries.
While the FAA's actions have been effective in ensuring the safe deployment of 5G services in the United States, there are still concerns about the potential impact on airports and flight operations. Airports have urged the federal government to intervene and delay the deployment of 5G operations due to concerns about significant disruptions to passenger and air cargo traffic. Major international carriers have already canceled flights and cargo shipments due to fears of not being able to safely land their aircraft at U.S. airports because of 5G interference.
To conclude, the FAA's directive for airlines to upgrade airplane altimeters and the collaboration between the aviation and telecommunication industries have been crucial in ensuring the safe coexistence of 5G and aviation operations in the United States. However, the impact on airports and flight operations remains a concern, with potential disruptions, delays, and cancellations expected until these issues are fully resolved.
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5G availability and download speeds
5G is the fifth generation of wireless data networks, which promises faster data speeds with less lag or delay than 4G. In theory, 5G can deliver an average speed of 10 Gbps, which is more than 100 times faster than 4G. Actual average 5G download speeds are currently measured between 1.4 and 14 times faster than 4G. 5G download speed is the rate at which data is transmitted from the network to a device, including music, videos, and email. 5G has the potential for download speeds between 10 and 20 Gbps, or 100 times faster than 4G.
The availability of 5G home internet is increasing rapidly, with affordable, straightforward pricing. T-Mobile averages just over 100 Mbps, Starry offers speeds of 200 Mbps, and Verizon's median speed is 300 Mbps. Starry is focused on five markets: Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, and Washington, DC. T-Mobile offers two speed tiers, with speeds ranging from 87 to 415 Mbps in downloads. AT&T's Internet Air is available across 48 states, with speeds ranging from 50 to 1,000 Mbps.
The rollout of 5G has had an impact on airports and aviation safety. In January 2022, 5G services launched in 46 markets in the United States, using frequencies in a radio spectrum called the C-band, which can be close to those used by radio altimeters in aircraft. This raised concerns about potential interference and disruptions to aviation operations. As a result, the FAA and the aviation industry worked together to address these concerns, and voluntary mitigations were put in place to minimize the impact on flight operations.
The FAA also issued a deadline for airlines to upgrade airplane altimeters by July 1, 2023, and by the end of September 2023, the risk of 5G interference to commercial passenger aircraft was successfully mitigated. However, there were still concerns about the impact of 5G on airports and the aviation system as a whole, with potential disruptions to passenger and cargo traffic.
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5G deployment and aviation safety
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been working to ensure that radio signals from newly activated wireless telecommunications systems can coexist safely with flight operations in the United States. In 2022, the FAA reached an agreement with AT&T and Verizon to delay some C-Band and 5G usage until airlines could retrofit aircraft altimeters to prevent interference. This was due to concerns that 5G signals could interfere with radio altimeters, which provide critical data for aircraft safety systems.
The FAA issued a deadline of July 1, 2023, for airlines to upgrade their altimeters, and by the end of September 2023, the entire U.S. airline fleet had upgraded their equipment, mitigating the risk of 5G interference. The FAA also worked with manufacturers to understand how altimeter data is used in other flight control systems and issued airworthiness directives to provide a framework and gather information to avoid potential effects on aviation safety equipment.
To further ensure safety, the FAA determined that some GPS-guided approaches may be used at certain airports, and educated aviation stakeholders on the changing rules and regulations surrounding 5G C-band deployment. They also worked with airlines on the Alternative Method of Compliance (AMOC) process, which demonstrates that altimeters are safe and reliable in certain 5G C-band environments.
The FAA's collaboration with the aviation sector and wireless providers has resulted in the safe fielding of 5G C-Band with minimized impacts on both industries. This successful collaboration has served as a blueprint for future discussions between government and industry stakeholders, ensuring continued safe aviation operations and the efficient use of the spectrum in the C-Band.
While the FAA has made significant progress in addressing the potential impacts of 5G deployment on aviation safety, it is important to remain vigilant and continue collaborating to avoid any potential disruptions or safety hazards.
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Frequently asked questions
Almost 90 commercial airports will be affected by 5G, including 50 airports that the FAA has identified as having buffer zones to reduce the risk of disruption.
5G operations may interfere with aircraft instruments, particularly radio altimeters, which are important for landing in low-visibility conditions.
5G services launched in 46 markets on 19 January 2022, with the risk of interference mitigated by the end of September 2023.
There have been concerns about significant disruptions to passenger and cargo traffic, with major carriers cancelling flights due to fears of unsafe landings. However, there have also been improvements in 5G download speeds and availability for users at these airports.
