5G could cause flight disruption, warns US Airlines

The ten largest US airlines have issued a warning that the impending launch of 5G mobile phone services will cause "significant disruption" to flight schedules and operations.

They predicted that the launch of Verizon and AT&T 5G mobile phone services, which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, will result in a "totally avoidable economic tragedy."

C-band is a source of concern for airlines. 5G signals will cause navigation systems on planes to malfunction, particularly those used in severe weather.

The warning was given in a letter that was submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States.

"Immediate intervention is required to avoid significant operational disruption to air passengers, shippers, the supply chain, and the delivery of needed medical supplies, including vaccine distribution", according to the chief executives of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, among others.

In addition to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the letter was also written to the director of the National Economic Council, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the chair of the Federal Communications Commission.

The airlines are requesting that 5G signals be prohibited from "approximately two miles of airport runways at affected airports as specified by the FAA on 19 January 2022" at the affected airports.

"This will enable for the deployment of 5G while minimising negative consequences for the aviation industry, the travelling public, the supply chain, vaccine distribution, our employees, and the larger economy.

"We additionally request that the FAA identify those base stations that are located in close proximity to important airport runways that require attention in order to ensure safety and avoid inconvenience," they continued.

Recently, the two largest jet manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing, issued a rarely combined warning to the public, expressing their concerns.

According to the airline industry group: "Manufacturers of commercial aircraft have advised us that large portions of the operating fleet may be forced to remain on the ground for an extended period of time.

Additionally, this scarcity of serviceable wide-body planes may potentially leave tens of thousands of Americans stranded overseas, in addition to creating havoc on the local scene.

An update from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which supervises aviation safety in the United States, stated that "an estimated 45 percent of the US commercial fleet has been certified to make low-visibility landings at many of the airports where 5G C-band will be implemented" on Sunday.

A statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that it has certified "two radio altimeter versions that are installed in a wide variety of Boeing and Airbus planes."

In spite of the new licences, "it is possible that flights at some airports would be disrupted," the regulator stated.

"It also continues to collaborate with manufacturers to better understand how radar altimeter data is integrated into other flight control systems. It is recommended that passengers consult with their airlines if inclement weather is expected at a destination where 5G interference may be present."

Cellphone providers have invested tens of billions of dollars in improving their networks in order to support the deployment of 5G technology, which will provide significantly faster internet speeds and better connections.

A number of delays have already occurred as a result of the aviation worries, with launch dates in December and earlier this month both being postponed until further notice.

The CTIA, a trade association representing the wireless industry in the United States, has previously stated that 5G is safe and accused the aviation industry of spreading fear and distorting facts.

"A delay will have serious consequences. Pushing back deployment by one year would result in a $50 billion reduction in economic growth, at a time when our country is still recovering and rebuilding from the pandemic "In a blog post published in November, CTIA chief executive Meredith Attwell Baker expressed her optimism about the future of the industry.