The aviation industry and the FAA have raised concerns about
potential interference of 5G with sensitive aircraft electronics like radio
altimeters. AT&T and Verizon in November agreed to delay the commercial
launch of C-band wireless service until January 5 after the FAA raised
concerns.
The FAA issued a pair of airworthiness directives ordering
the revision of airplane and helicopter flight manuals to prohibit some
operations requiring radio altimeter data when in the presence of 5G C-Band
wireless broadband signals.
One FAA directive on Tuesday said the "unsafe
condition" posed by the planned use required immediate action before the
January 5 deployment "because radio altimeter anomalies that are
undetected by the aircraft automation or pilot, particularly close to the
ground ... could lead to loss of continued safe flight and landing."
The FAA reiterated in a statement on Tuesday that it
believes the "expansion of 5G and aviation will safely co-exist." The
agency added that the two directives "provide a framework ... to gather
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
precise contours of any limitations, which are expected to be outlined in the
coming weeks in a series of notices.
The FCC said Tuesday it "continues to make progress
working with the FAA and private entities to advance the safe and swift
deployment of 5G networks ... We look forward to updated guidance from the FAA
in the coming weeks that reflects these developments."
It is not yet clear what airports or specific airplanes may
be impacted. The FAA said notices would "be issued, as necessary, to state
the specific areas where the data from a 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
precautionary measures for at least six months to limit interference. But
aviation industry groups said on Monday they were insufficient 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 the
real-world experience in dozens of countries already using this spectrum for 5G
confirms," and added it was confident the FAA ultimately will conclude
C-Band 5G use "poses no risk to air safety."
Verizon added it was "on track to launch 5G using
C-band next month and to reach 100 million Americans with this network in the
first quarter of 2022."
The wireless companies said in November they would take "additional steps to minimise energy coming from 5G base stations." The FAA said under 2020 FCC rules "base stations in rural areas of the United States are permitted to emit at higher levels in comparison to other countries." © Reuters