Roberta Aguirre
The aviation industry has raised concerns about the potential interference of 5G with aircraft radio altimeters, which tell pilots how high their aircraft is flying and help with automated landings. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued directives warning that interference from 5G wireless spectrum could result in flight diversions, delays, cancellations, and even safety risks. Industry experts warn that as many as 350,000 passenger flights and 5,400 cargo flights could be affected, causing significant disruptions to air travel and shipping. While telecommunications companies have implemented mitigation efforts, such as buffer frequencies and reducing tower power, airlines continue to call for targeted delays in 5G deployment near airports until safety risks can be fully assessed and addressed.
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What You'll Learn
5G signals may interfere with aircraft radio altimeters
The aviation industry has raised concerns about potential interference of 5G with aircraft radio altimeters. Radio altimeters provide precise readings of the height of an aircraft above the ground, helping pilots land in low-visibility conditions. They also alert pilots to potential terrain hazards and are used for automated landings and enabling reverse thrust after landing.
The concern is that 5G signals operate in the 4.2-4.4 GHz range, which is very close to the frequencies used by radio altimeters. This proximity could lead to interference, causing inaccurate readings and potentially affecting flight safety. In the United States, 5G signals are allowed to operate directly in the paths of aircraft as they approach and depart from large international airports, which increases the risk of interference.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has acknowledged these concerns and taken steps to address them. They have issued airworthiness directives and collaborated with wireless companies to implement mitigations, such as buffer zones around certain airports and the use of radio frequency filters on altimeters. These measures aim to reduce the risk of disruption and ensure the safe coexistence of 5G and aviation operations.
However, the aviation industry has warned that 5G deployment near airports could still result in significant disruptions. Industry experts predict that hundreds of thousands of flights could be delayed, diverted, or even cancelled due to 5G interference. Airlines have urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to delay the activation of 5G near priority airports until the potential risks are fully understood and mitigated.
While telecommunications companies have downplayed these concerns, claiming that mitigation efforts are in place, the aviation industry remains cautious. The impact of 5G interference on flight operations is still uncertain, and the collaboration between the aviation and wireless industries is ongoing to ensure a safe implementation of 5G technology near airports.
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Airlines fear disruption to thousands of flights
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has allowed telecom companies to broadcast 5G near the frequency spectrum used by radio altimeters. This proximity has raised concerns about possible interference, particularly in adverse weather conditions. In response, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has imposed safety restrictions, including revising landing requirements and prohibiting certain operations that rely on radio altimeter data in the presence of 5G C-band wireless signals.
Industry experts warn that hundreds of thousands of flights could face delays, diversions, or cancellations due to 5G deployment near airports. This includes both passenger and cargo flights, impacting not just travellers but also supply chains and vaccine shipments. The impact is expected to be significant, with potential costs of $1.6 billion annually in delays for passengers.
To address these concerns, telecom companies like Verizon and AT&T have implemented mitigation measures. They have agreed to defer turning on some wireless towers near key airports and reduce tower power for a limited period. Additionally, radio altimeter manufacturers are working with aircraft companies to develop and distribute filters and installation kits to address interference issues.
While telecom companies assert that 5G technology operates safely without causing harmful interference in nearly 40 countries, airlines in the U.S. are particularly concerned due to the proximity of 5G signals to flight paths near large international airports.
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The FAA is imposing safety restrictions near airports
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is imposing safety restrictions near airports due to concerns about potential interference of 5G wireless signals with aircraft radio altimeters. Radio altimeters provide precise readings of an aircraft's height above the ground, which is crucial for safe landing, especially during low-visibility conditions.
The FAA has issued directives warning that interference from 5G signals could result in flight diversions, delays, or even cancellations. In some cases, aircraft may not be able to use guided and automatic landing systems that rely on accurate altimeter data. This could particularly affect landings during low-visibility conditions, such as bad weather, cloud cover, or heavy smog.
To address these concerns, the FAA has implemented several measures. Firstly, they have identified 50 airports that will have buffer zones to reduce the risk of disruption from 5G signals. These buffer zones were selected based on factors such as traffic volume, the number of low-visibility days, and geographic location. Additionally, the FAA has been working with radio altimeter manufacturers to develop and test filters and installation kits for aircraft, which are now being provided to customers.
Furthermore, the FAA is also engaging with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to address technical issues associated with 5G deployment. The FAA is also in discussions with wireless companies to relax mitigations around key airports in carefully phased approaches. For example, Verizon and AT&T, the two main telecommunications companies deploying 5G, have agreed to push back the launch of 5G near certain airports and dial back the power of 5G towers to address concerns.
The FAA's safety restrictions and measures aim to protect commercial air travel from disruption while also enabling the deployment of enhanced wireless services around airports.
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Airlines want 5G delayed near airports until safety is assured
Airlines are concerned about the potential interference of 5G with aircraft radio altimeters, which tell pilots how close their aircraft is to the ground and alert them to other potential terrain hazards. Radio altimeters operate in the 4.2-4.4 GHz range, and the frequencies auctioned to telecom companies sit too close to this range.
In the United States, powerful 5G signals are allowed to operate directly in the paths of aircraft as they approach and depart from large international airports. This is not the case in other nations. For example, in France, telecom companies are required by law to operate at much weaker power levels whenever interference with aircraft could be an issue.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued directives revising airplane and helicopter flight manuals to prohibit some operations requiring radio altimeter data when in the presence of 5G C-band wireless broadband signals. Aircraft with untested altimeters or that need retrofitting or replacement will be unable to perform low-visibility landings where 5G is deployed. The FAA has identified 50 airports that will have buffer zones when wireless companies turn on new 5G C-band service.
The aviation industry has raised concerns about the potential disruption that 5G deployment near airports could cause. Industry experts are warning that as many as 350,000 passenger flights could experience delays, diversions, or cancellations, and another 5,400 cargo flights could see disruptions. In total, more than 32 million passengers and cargo customers will be affected.
As a result, airlines want 5G deployment near airports delayed until safety is assured. Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio called for targeted delays of 5G deployment near U.S. airports until the FAA can determine if the technology can be safely deployed. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson have also asked the FCC to put off activation of 5G near “priority airports” until airlines can better understand the potential risks to their operations.
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5G interference may affect low-visibility landings
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has allowed telecom companies to broadcast 5G near a frequency spectrum that airlines use to operate their radio altimeters. Radio altimeters tell pilots how close their aircraft are to the ground and alert them to other potential hazards. The close proximity of the frequency spectrum used by 5G to that used by radio altimeters may cause interference, which could affect landings during periods of low visibility.
In January 2022, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued directives revising airplane and helicopter flight manuals to prohibit some operations requiring radio altimeter data when in the presence of 5G C-Band wireless broadband signals. The FAA also released a list of 50 airports that will have buffer zones when wireless companies turn on new 5G C-band service. Aircraft with untested altimeters or that need retrofitting or replacement will be unable to perform low-visibility landings where 5G is deployed.
The FAA's directives mean that thousands of US planes and helicopters won't be able to use many of the guided and automatic landing systems that are designed to work in poor visibility conditions. This is because, in the presence of 5G interference, radio altimeters may not be reliable, and pilots may not be able to tell how high they are above the ground. This could result in aircraft landing at the wrong time, which could lead to disaster.
The aviation industry has raised concerns about the potential interference of 5G with sensitive aircraft electronics like radio altimeters. Industry experts are warning that as many as 350,000 passenger flights could experience delays, diversions, or cancellations as a direct result of 5G deployment near airports. Airlines have also warned that 5G wireless could wreak havoc with flights, disrupting thousands of daily flights and costing air passengers $1.6 billion annually in delays.
In response to these concerns, Verizon and AT&T have agreed to push back the launch of C-band by one month and offered to dial back the power of 5G towers for six months. The FAA has also been working with the wireless companies to relax mitigations around key airports in carefully considered phases. In the long term, new radar altimeter designs that meet new standards may be developed.
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Frequently asked questions
5G is the next generation of mobile internet connection, providing faster speeds and more reliable connections on mobile devices.
Airports are concerned that 5G signals could interfere with aircraft equipment, particularly radio altimeters, which tell pilots how high their plane is flying and are essential for landing safely, especially in low-visibility conditions.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US has implemented safety restrictions and buffer zones around certain airports to prevent potential interference. Telecommunication companies such as Verizon and AT&T have also agreed to temporarily defer 5G tower activations near key airports and reduce tower power to address these concerns.
The impact on flights is expected to be significant, with potential delays, diversions, and cancellations. Industry experts warn that hundreds of thousands of flights and millions of passengers could be affected, causing disruptions to travel and supply chains.
