As airlines warn of devastating consequences over an expanded 5G network set to rollout soon, their real fear is not over the new wireless technology, but how the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is addressing it.
Airlines Fear FAA Incompetence, Not 5G Technology
We’ve addressed the 5G issue before on Live and Let’s Fly and I would refer you this primer for a background on the technology and why it making headlines today.
After agreeing to a two-week delay, Verizon and AT&T plan to “turn on” 5C C-Band tomorrow, which will bring ultra-fast internet speeds, extra bandwidth, and increased connectivity across the nation. This fifth generation wireless technology will revolutionize the way in which we use our mobile devices and may eventually change the way we use internet at home.
But the FAA remains concerned that the the new 5G technology will cause interference with older altimeters on aircraft, potentially jeopardizing safety. The FAA has even set up a website to address this concern:
Because the proposed 5G deployment involves a new combination of power levels, frequencies, proximity to flight operations, and other factors, the FAA will need to impose restrictions on flight operations using certain types of radar altimeter equipment close to antennas in 5G networks.
These safety restrictions could affect flight schedules and operations, affecting the aviation system. Before and after the 5G deployment begins, the FAA will continue to work every day to reduce effects of this disruption as we make progress to safely integrate 5G and aviation.
While the FAA acknowledges that 5G technology is in use in countries like France and Japan without issue, it distinguishes between approaches and mitigation efforts. For example, the FAA indicates that France has:
- increased buffer zones
- lower power levels
- antennas tilted downward to reduce potential interference to flights
- different placement of antennas relative to airfields
- frequencies with a different proximity to frequencies used by aviation equipment
Such modifications are controlled by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), not the FAA.
Consequently, the FAA will limit the use of altimeters on older aircraft in 5G areas. At the same time, the FAA has approved exceptions for more modern aircraft over the last week and still will not even say whether 5G will cause disturbances at all, instead merely falling back on an “out of abundance of caution” defense.
With potential flight disruptions on the horizon, airlines have urged for the further delay of 5G rollout, particularly around airports. A letter signed by the CEOs of all major U.S. airlines warns:
“Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially be grounded…
Immediate intervention is needed to avoid significant operational disruption to air passengers, shippers, supply chain and delivery of needed medical supplies…
To be blunt, the nation’s commerce will grind to a halt.”
You can read the full letter below:
Full airline CEO letter https://t.co/NeXVJbFhzQ pic.twitter.com/ws5Y5HKx1X
— davidshepardson (@davidshepardson) January 17, 2022
In its own letter, United Airlines implored the federal government to get its act together:
“We won’t compromise on safety — full stop. But, governments in other countries have successfully designed policies to ensure the safe deployment of 5G technology and we’re simply asking the U.S. government to do the same. We implore the Biden administration to act quickly and apply the same common sense solutions here that have clearly worked so well around the world.”
And that gets to the heart of this issue: airlines fear the FAA, not 5G.
5G is not a new technology. The FAA has had years to test and analyze the new spectrum to prepare for this (delayed) launch. Its feverish work over the last two weeks to certify more modern aircraft altimeters shows a lack of planning and strategic failure.
Why were older altimeters not more vigorously tested in the months leading up to this launch? Why were test sites not set up to probe in real-time the impact, if any, of 5G on aircraft safety equipment?
Thus, we seem to be left with speculatory fear over a hazard which may not even be real due to a government agency that failed to do its job in advance.
CONCLUSION
Indeed, the FAA must never compromise safety. But this is a problem of the agency’s own making and we should never have reached this point in which airlines are warning “commerce will ground to a halt.” At this point, the FAA can only continue to keep working frantically to perform the assessments that should have taken place months or even years ago. In the meantime, airlines likely have the FAA to fear far more than 5G technology. And it merits mentioning the FCC also shares a high degree of blame for this fiasco.
Update: AT&T and Verizon has have agreed to delay turning on 5G towers near some U.S airports. A statement from AT&T notes:
“We are frustrated by the FAA’s inability to do what nearly 40 countries have done, which is to safely deploy 5G technology without disrupting aviation services, and we urge it do so in a timely manner.”
Reminds me of the ban on using cell phones on planes because in theory it could somehow interfere with the avionics. No agency or airline ever proved a link and finally started allowing it. Can’t make policy based on unfounded theories.
And despite overwhelming data, we are still instructed to put our devices in airplane mode because once a rule is in place, it almost never goes away.
I suspect the mask mandate on commercial flights will never go away either.
At one point, there was some concern about instrument interference as well as popping on the radios. The real issue now is the FCC and their “concern” that cell towers will be interfered with. Once again, it is the FCC and not the FAA.
What was that “concern” over about instrument interference based upon?
If I recall correctly, the first-gen cell phones had much more powerful transmitters and there was (unproven) concern that they may interfere with onboard ILS receivers during CAT I/II landings.
Emirates just canceled flights to most of its US airports. Feels like an overreaction. I am curious if other foreign carriers will follow.
Once again, you are inaccurately reporting this. The FAA is reacting to a problem of the FCC’s making. In France, their telecom regulator didn’t act in a way to favor mobile carriers over transport infrastructure. They acted on the recommendations of airlines and their aviation regulator. The FCC didn’t. It is their fault, not the FAA
Incorrect. The FAA is not a blameless actor.
I pummeled the FCC in my earlier story:
https://liveandletsfly.com/5g-airplane-interference/
But the FAA had plenty of time to act to address safety concerns and dragged its feet.
That is false. The FAA has been warning about this for a long time, but is powerless over telecoms. The FCC simply refused to do anything to limit what they view as a cash cow.
Watch this:
That’s not the question. The question is where is the evidence of interference? 5G technology is years old. Why has the FAA not been able to determine this over the last two years?
Pro Tip: don’t lead in making your case with a youtube video. Responsibility flows to person or group with direct oversight. That’s FAA. Stories running in every local newspaper in major cities around the world will lead with FAA couldn’t get it together and your flight to the US may be cancelled. Another sad day for American leadership.
Do you understand who Juan Browne is?
Here is the FAA reference. They have done everything they can in the face of the FCC’s poorly taken action.
https://www.faa.gov/5g
What do you expect in 2022–this is the US government we are talking about. Can’t believe how far it has fallen from basic competence. But you can safer knowing every FAA employee has spent the last few years getting all the right training on what pronouns to use.
I worked in the FAA HQ counsel’s office for nearly 15 years. Whit I was not in rulemaking or enforcement, I learned much about those processes. FAA tries to keep up, but the vested interests are overpowering, the manufacturers, the airlines, GA community and all of their lobbyists. However the agency is still a huge mess tethered to a bigger mess at the Transportation Department. Also, FAA employees have a very generous payband system. Not just the ATC people. No one ever leaves.
This whole thing reminds me of the Y2K fiasco. “Airplanes will fall out of the sky!” Having flown for the USAF for 20 years, including 737s (T-43) and C-5s, I can’t believe that modern planes don’t have several back-up systems on board that can be used instead of the radio altimeter. And after a week or two, this comedy of errors will go away.
Interesting analogy to Y2K.