Emirates President Sir Tim Clark has called the 5G fiasco in the USA “one of the most delinquent, utterly irresponsible” situations he has seen in his entire aviation career and singled out U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for blame.
Emirates President Tim Clark Blames Pete Buttigieg For 5G Flight Problems
Speaking to CNN’s Richard Quest, Clark said he was blindsided by the 5G crisis “to the extent that it was going to compromise the safety of operation of our aircraft and just about every other 777 operator to and from the United States and within the United States.”
Clark first noted that the U.S. has taken a different approach to 5G than the rest of the world:
“We were aware of a 5G issue. Okay. We are aware that everybody is trying to get 5G rolled out after all it’s the super cool future of whatever it may be communication and information flow. We were not aware that the power of the antennas in the United States have been doubled compared to what’s going on elsewhere.
“We were not aware that the antenna themselves have been put into a vertical position rather than a slight slanting position, which then taken together compromise not only the radio altimeter systems but the flight control systems on the fly by wire aircraft. So on that basis we took that decision late last night to suspend all our services until we had clarity.”
This has been noted by the FAA as well, though the agency has had a lead-time of over a year to prepare for this moment and had been aware of the expansion of 5G technology for four years.
Clark went on to accuse U.S. regulators, particularly U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, of failing to alert foreign airlines of the potential safety issue:
“We have evidence of letters being written to the Secretary of Transport in the US government alerting that group to what was likely to happen and its consequences.”
Clark contends U.S. airlines were alerted well in advance, but foreign airlines like Emirates were not. I’m not sure that particular charge is reasonable considering U.S. airlines have been warning about 5G technology for several months.
Still, Clark did not mince words:
“I need to be as candid as I normally am, and say this is one of the most delinquent, utterly irresponsible issue subjects, call it what you like, I’ve seen in my aviation career because it involves organs of government, manufacturers, science, etc. And you know, the notion that, for instance, the United States government should sell its franchise for all the frequencies for a large amount of money. Somebody should have told them at the time – that the risks and the dangers they placed in certain frequency uses around field, airfields, metropolitan fields that should have been done at the time.”
The FAA is worried, though it has not proven, that 5G cellular antennas may cause interference with radar altimeters onboard certain aircraft. Boeing has also cryptically warned its 777 customers to avoid takeoffs and landings in the USA until the 5G issue is resolved, throwing global aviation into disarray.
> Read More: Boeing, FAA Leave Airlines Hanging On 777, 787
That has not stopped Air France from continuing 777 operations to the USA and earlier today JAL announced it would resume 777 service after a one-day suspension after Verizon and AT&T agreed to limit 5G signals around major U.S. airports.
Finally, it should be noted that the 5G news may be quite welcome to Emirates, considering it has faced scrutiny in preceding days for a pair of near-miss incidents on 777s in Dubai, one on the ground and one after takeoff.
> Read More: Emirates 777 Nearly Crashed Due To Pilot Error
> Read More: A Second Near-Disaster On Emirates 777 In Dubai
While Clark is right to criticize how the USA has bungled the rollout of 5G, he would do well to get his own house in order as well.
CONCLUSION
Emirates President Tim Clark has expressed disgust over the U.S. handling of Verizon and AT&T’s 5G rollout and directed particular ire at Pete Buttigieg. It is not clear how long Emirates’ U.S. operations will be impacted over uncertainty over the 777 safety instruments.
image: Emirates
1. Disappointed in Buttigieg in general
2. Disappointed in you using “SLAMS” on your title. SMH.
Wag the Dog much, Tim?
When were the 5G transmitters installed? How long has Buttigieg been Sec. of Transportation? Does Tim Clark believe this whole issue started last year?
But Tim Clark is trying to divert attention from the safety issues his airline has been involved in recently. Maybe the FAA needs to have a closer look at pilot training at Emirates and it’s operations.
AAltered or AAlerted?
Fixed! Thanks.
I mean, if your the CEO of a state sponsored airline that doesn’t really have any pressure of making a profit, yea this looks like a big screw up. but the UAE loves “the appearance” of having an airline.
Tim Clark’s job is to spend monopoly money whether he makes a profit or not ; not a real CEO opinion matters less than my 12 year old
This coming from the “GOD” of the air-transport industry. Just wish he’d recognize what an extremely unequal playing field he operates in. Just throw some money at the problem & save the American air-transport industry Sir Tim-
Why does anyone care what this non American thinks about an American?
Dangerous airline as stories on here have suggested recently.
F Emirates!
Clark is well respected in the industry and he’s right about the US screwing this up. The US had plenty of time to fix this but no one did anything. Unfortunately Americans are too self centered and cannot admit when they are wrong and always deflect and blame others.
I hardly see being self-centered and deflecting blame as specific to America. Really? History is not on your side in the narrative of most every developed nation over the past few hundred years. Or today. In some areas it could be argued that the very nature of American democracy makes us our own worst critics.
No doubt the US is developed. So developed that it caused 2 crashes of the 737MAX by a grossly incompetent and negligent FAA. (Of course Boeing has a lot to due with this.) And by the way I’m a US citizen and living in the US. I know when to admit when things are wrong and there are a lot of wrong things about the US government and its handling of so many things especially in the aviation sector.
If you want to focus on the aviation industry, and call it an American “thing,” perhaps look at the history of Airbus and the issues surrounding them in the past. Every company has its moments. Just like Boeing today they tried to downplay it, as did the Govt’s. Yet, in the end it made them a better company, just as these moments will make Boeing better in the future. Within every culture is a tendency to stray from quality. It’s an unfortunate reality. But it’s what’s needed to lift them back again. And remind those that watch to not get complacent.
The fact you are American is proof to my point, that we own our misgivings. We may not be exactly as forthcoming if it reaches our own pockets, but as a nation we are the first to criticize our own, and work towards the right. I would conjecture to say that as a nation, no one was more horrified as we were over the MAX. It’s an embarrassment we all will live with this as to the standards of quality in the products we make and regulate….and the need for better. Like you, I was the first to jump on the wagon of saying, “this is horrible.” That’s good, these are the checks and balances of a nation where our voice is actually heard.
There’s no way to reply to Stuart so I’m responding to Al in the discussion.
Regarding Stuart’s point that Boeing should get better because of the crisis, I have my doubts. For starters, there was little consequence to the 737 max disaster as far as management was concerned. The CEO killed 364 people and walked away with more than 60 million dollars. One pilot was indicted but the upper management who transformed Boeing from engineering excellence and safety to corruption and profiteering got off scot free. So why should the new management do anything major if they just slap some paint here and there and pretend like that makes a huge difference? They’ll pay off the lawsuits and fines and life will schlep on.
What SHOULD have happened is that Boeing should unmerge with McDonnell Douglas and stop trying to make commercial planes like military ones and move off MD executives from their board. Rebuild the R&D department that has been crippled into just recycling old 737 designs. And insource the jobs back to American workers. Let the stock go down in the short run due to all this (to punish wall street from rewarding unethical opportunists) but in the long run, Boeing might start making innovative, EXCEPTIONALLY SAFE civilian aircraft again.
I agree 100%. The U.S. are too self centered. Never want to be accountable and uneducated US people fall for anything.
Thanks for you comment.
If only Emirates pilots had the same command of the English language as Tim Clark.
This coming from the “GOD” of the air-transport industry. Just wish he’d recognize what an extremely unequal playing field he operates in. Just throw some money at the problem & save the American air-transport industry Sir Tim-
Wow,
It really didn’t take long for some of the readers here to start playing Politics with this thread. is this really the way everything in the United States has become
And for what its worth “Nico”, I’d like you to explain this statement please
“if only Emirates pilots had the same command of the English language as Tim Clark”
My comment is referencing the recent aborted takeoff of EK524 and could equally apply to the DXB ATC tower personnel. Are you in possession of insight into the incident the rest of the public is lacking?
This is an excellent way to deflect the press away from the poor and negligent departures coming out of Dubai. Remember flight EK231 flying over the city at an altitude of 75 feet, going a minimum of 234 knots…
When were the 5G transmitters installed? How long has Buttigieg been Sec. of Transportation? Does Tim Clark believe this whole issue started last year?
But Tim Clark is trying to divert attention from the safety issues his airline has been involved in recently. Maybe the FAA needs to have a closer look at pilot training at Emirates and it’s operations.
I guess the 5G transmitters were responsible for the near disasters on Emirates 777 recently?
Fix your airline and it’s dangerous operations before pointing your finger sir.
I’m no fan of this current administration and while Buttigieg is nothing more than a empty suit political hack, this mess has been years in the making. It’s coming to a head now and has been handled poorly by this administration. Somewhere in the halls of the FCC and FAA I can hear the engineers saying “we told you so!” The lobbyists and political appointees always win out.
Blame the administration for absolutely everything! Its easier that way!
Buttigieg was breastfeeding his new baby
Grow up.
I can remember when everything wrong was Bush’s fault. Now, everything is Trump’s fault.
I appreciate the article Matthew, it was eye-opening and informative.
Emirates President Sir Tim Clark
Headline of the Add is totally wrong.
Emirates President it’s wrong.
It should be Emirates Airlines President.
Thanks & regards
Emirates doesn’t go by Emirates Airlines.
It’s an article, not an “add”. And, as Matthew Klimt pointed out, is officially just Emirates.
Maybe you should learn English before commenting.
The president of the UAE is Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Sir Tim Clark is one of the most respected airline managers on earth and Emirates has the largest fleet of Boeing 777 aircraft. That created untold numbers of jobs for Americans. The incidents involving Emirates aircraft are still being investigated although the media has already and arrogantly decided the outcome. The manner in which the US authorities have mishandled the 5G problems is a disgrace of epic proportions and endangers countless lives. Sir Tim did the right thing to protest and not be intimidated by political clout. So some commentators, including the author of the article, should check the facts if they do not want to be opinionated fools.
One could argue the only opinionated fool is the man at the heart of this article.
That’s not a very polite reply Matt, your website should be above this type of statement.
Mr. Clark should get his house in order as well, wouldn’t you agree?
Matthew Klint why did you remove the words “and the UAE does not have a president” from your statement just before my post. You seem to regard yourself as occupying the high ground so show some integrity and restore your erroneous ststement to its original wording.
Do we, as Americans, really care if Emirates brings their passengers to the United States? I know I don’t.
As Americans you should care given the poor state of all economies around the world including the US. Emirates is the biggest international airline on earth, to the best of my knowledge and as such transports passengers mainly from many international airports, not just from the Middle East. But then if the US is not interested in the money tourists and business travellers spend in your country, you are of course right.
When the United States government announced they were going to sell the airwaves the theater industry in New York ask them to reconsider and the head of the Shubert organization brought in representatives to the theater that I work in to show them what would happen if they sold off the airwaves that the theaters are using. Selling off those airwaves did nothing but make somebody very wealthy. They need to investigate why they were sold off in the first place. The trouble caused by the sale could be catastrophic for an airliner.
CNN has a video of Sir Tim Clark, a Canadian, being interviewed by Richard Quest, a Brit, on his objections to US installations of 5G near airports. He objected to non-US airlines being kept in the dark that the US 5G antenna output is double that of other international installations and the dangereous possible interference with radar altimeter and flight controls of airliners. There is also a video of US airline executives raising the same objections. So those who derided Sir Tim should consider that they are by default in support of possible 9/11 type tragedies in the major cities to which airliners, including domestic Boeing 777s, fly. It seems the Boeing 777 has a problem as Emirates now fly Airbus 380s to affected cities pending a solution . So Sir Tim was 100% right in calling attention to the incomprehensibe actions of all involved in 5G deployment with double power output of antennas at major US airports. Why this article ever saw the light of day is beyond comprehension.
I was a pilot for Emirates. Very bad management, very unsafe airline, only a matter of time until they kill a lot of fare paying passengers.
And a corrupt CEO who is so called Sir?
Keep away, corrupt so called Sir at a very corrupt country.
I was there for 12 years, I know.
Dont fly Emirates if you value your family and life.
F Emirates and Sir Tim