The FAA Again Warns The Dangers of 5G Spectrum On Aviation Safety

5G transmitters could jeopardize airplane flights. (photo credit: pixabay)

JAKARTA - The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned Tuesday that disruption from planned use of 5G wireless spectrum poses an air safety risk and could result in flight diversions.

The aviation industry and the FAA, Reuters reported, have raised concerns about the potential for 5G interference with sensitive aircraft electronics such as radio altimeters. AT&T and Verizon Communications last November agreed to delay the commercial rollout of C-band wireless services until January 5 after the FAA raised concerns.

The FAA issued a pair of airworthiness directives ordering the revision of aircraft and helicopter flight manuals to prohibit some operations that require radio altimeter data when there is a C-Band 5G wireless broadband signal.

An FAA directive last Tuesday said the "unsafe conditions" posed by its planned use and required immediate action prior to the January 5 deployment "because of radio altimeter anomalies that are not detected by aircraft or pilot automation, particularly those close to the ground ... could cause to the continued loss of safe flights and landings."

The FAA reiterated in a statement on Tuesday that it believes "5G expansion and aviation will coexist safely." The agency added that the two directives "provide a framework ... for gathering more information to avoid potential effects on aviation safety equipment."

The FAA remains in discussions with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), White House, and industry officials about the exact contours of each boundary, which is expected to be outlined in the coming weeks in a series of notices.

The FCC said on Tuesday that it "continues to make progress in working with the FAA and private entities to advance the secure and rapid deployment of 5G networks... We look forward to updated guidance from the FAA in the coming weeks reflecting these developments."

It was not immediately clear what specific airports or aircraft might be affected. The FAA said a notice would be "issued, if necessary, to state-specific areas where data from the radio altimeter may be unreliable due to the presence of 5G C-Band wireless broadband signals."

AT&T and Verizon on November 24 said they would adopt precautions for at least six months to limit disruption. But aviation industry groups said Monday, December 6 that they are not doing enough to address air safety concerns.

Verizon said Tuesday "there is no evidence that 5G operations using C-band spectrum pose any risk to aviation safety, as real-world experience in the dozens of countries already using this spectrum for 5G confirms, and they added that the FAA is ultimately confident it will conclude. use of C-Band 5G "does not pose a risk to air safety."

Verizon added it is "on track to roll out 5G using C-band next month and to reach 100 million Americans with this network by the first quarter of 2022."

The wireless company said in November it would take "additional steps to minimize energy coming from 5G base stations." The FAA said under the 2020 FCC rules "base stations in rural areas of the United States are permitted to emit at higher levels compared to other countries."