There is a lot of concern over the rollout of 5G technology as it could cause serious problems with aviation, but there has been little focus on how to mitigate these risks. Airlines and flight companies are becoming increasingly concerned about the impact that 5G will have on their business in terms of safety.
5G is a new wireless technology that is being rolled out by the carriers. 5G provides faster speeds and better coverage, but it also requires more power. The rollout of 5G will be concerning for airlines and flight.
The launch of a new 5G wireless internet service in the United States has been controversial.
After a standoff over potential risks that the connection poses to cockpit equipment, Verizon Communications Inc. VZ 0.13% and AT&T Inc. T -0.11% on Jan. 19 activated much of the wireless service. The companies did so without powering it on close to certain airport runways.
Despite this, a few airlines canceled a few flights on the first day. Air safety officials have been attempting to clear planes to fly in poor visibility circumstances, and some flights may still be delayed as a result of their efforts.
What’s going on in the struggle for 5G aviation safety?
In early December, telecom firms were intended to launch a new, speedier wireless internet service. After air-safety officials threatened to apply disruptive flying limitations because the 5G service may possibly pose a danger to aircraft cockpit equipment, the idea struck some roadblocks. The telecommunications sector denies that the service poses any risks.
So, what’s next?
After two delays tied to the battle, Verizon VZ 0.13% and AT&T started to deploy the new service Jan. 19—but it won’t cover all the areas the companies had anticipated, at least for the short term.
Both businesses said the day before activation that they would temporarily halt delivery of the service near specified airports. The postponement occurred after several prominent airlines warned in a letter to Biden administration officials on Jan. 17 that if 5G service was enabled on within 2 miles of major airport runways, it may cause considerable flight disruptions.
The telecom industry denies that the 5G deployment would pose any risks to aviation cockpit equipment.
George Frey/Bloomberg News photo
Have any airlines said that they intend to change their schedules?
Yes. Several foreign airlines said on Jan. 18 that they will cancel certain flights to the United States starting the next day, partially due to operational issues related to FAA limits imposed in reaction to the 5G deployment. Two Japanese airlines, on the other hand, have altered their decision to cancel flights, citing an FAA update suggesting Boeing Co. 777 planes might be used instead. Emirates Airline said separately that it has resumed partial service in three of the nine US locations where it had intended to suspend flights.
A few additional Boeing 777 flights were canceled, including British Airways’ operation from London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Delta Air Lines Inc. has said that under some weather situations, flight cancellations may be necessary.
What has caused the aviation sector to be concerned about flight safety?
The question is whether the new 5G signals would have an impact on airplane technology that helps planes land in bad weather and prevent accidents. Radar or radio altimeters are devices that utilize radio frequencies to estimate the distance between aircraft and the ground.
Aviation regulators are concerned that the cellular frequencies that telecom firms want to activate would interfere with altimeters, causing the equipment’ readings to be thrown off and putting aircraft in danger. The 5G service will utilize the C-band frequency, which is similar to the airways used by altimeters.
According to telecom sector officials, connections via the C-band will not interfere with cockpit gadgets, citing technical experts from the Federal Communications Commission and evaluations from other agencies across the globe.
Telecom providers have agreed to block 5G signals for six months at airports designated as buffer zones by aviation authorities.
Getty Images/Jonathan Sullivan
The FAA recently published regulations prohibiting aircraft from landing in low-visibility situations at locations where 5G service has been deployed. The FAA has said that flight operators and manufacturers may take measures to show to the agency that their altimeters can work consistently and correctly in the new 5G environment.
So, would the new 5G service make flying risky?
The FAA has said that it is taking precautions to guarantee that airplanes do not operate in a dangerous scenario as a result of the 5G service. The purpose of the FAA’s limits on aircraft utilizing particular radar altimeters, according to the agency, is to ensure that the devices are not harmed.
Signals in the C-band, according to telecom industry specialists, will not cause detrimental interference to cockpit systems. They have cited the inclusion of a buffer band to isolate the new 5G transmissions from those used by radar altimeters in the US.
Is the new 5G service just applicable to commercial planes?
No. Altimeters are also used by helicopters and private aircraft. According to Helicopter Association International, certain law-enforcement and fire-fighting aircraft might be grounded if the new 5G services are turned on. The FAA has authorized an exception that would enable air ambulances to continue flying without the need for altimeters.
According to radar experts and manufacturers, helicopters often have more diversified flight paths than aircraft and fly slower, exposing them to more cell towers and longer bursts of possible interference. Commercial flights utilize a far smaller number of airports and takeoff and landing locations than helicopters and private planes.
What is 5G, and why is it such a huge issue in the telecommunications industry?
Fifth-generation cellular technology is substantially faster than previous services, easing activities such as downloading software and streaming video. Such links are already available in parts of the U.S. from Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile US Inc. TMUS -1.43% in several spectrum bands. Coverage isn’t uniform, and AT&T and Verizon in particular need more frequencies to keep their networks from becoming congested.
Verizon, for example, bid $45.5 billion for its C-band licenses, which it intends to use to expand 5G service for mobile consumers and provide residential internet connections in regions where cable broadband isn’t accessible or is prohibitively expensive.
A Second Chance
As the new 5G service went online, wireless carriers requested a six-month buffer period to avoid flight delays. The idea was approved by transportation authorities in early January.
Initial buffer zone around the airport
Zone of exclusion
There was no new 5G service authorized near airport runways.
Zone of power decrease
Additional outside buffer with 5G signal restrictions is required.
Wireless firms eventually agreed to a simpler, broader buffer zone around runways after being pressured by airlines. The network providers did not specify how long the new 5G restrictions would be in effect.
Zone of exclusion
Certain frequencies will not be broadcast by cell towers within 2 miles of airport runways.
Zone of exclusion
There was no new 5G service authorized near airport runways.
Zone of power decrease
Additional outside buffer with 5G signal restrictions is required.
Wireless firms eventually agreed to a simpler, broader buffer zone around runways after being pressured by airlines. The network providers did not specify how long the new 5G restrictions would be in effect.
Zone of exclusion
Certain frequencies will not be broadcast by cell towers within 2 miles of airport runways.
Zone of exclusion
There was no new 5G service authorized near airport runways.
Zone of power decrease
Additional outside buffer with 5G signal restrictions is required.
Wireless firms eventually agreed to a simpler, broader buffer zone around runways after being pressured by airlines. The network providers did not specify how long the new 5G restrictions would be in effect.
Zone of exclusion
Certain frequencies will not be broadcast by cell towers within 2 miles of airport runways.
Zone of exclusion
There was no new 5G service authorized near airport runways.
Zone of power decrease
Additional outside buffer with 5G signal restrictions is required.
Wireless firms eventually agreed to a simpler, broader buffer zone around runways after being pressured by airlines. The network providers did not specify how long the new 5G restrictions would be in effect.
Zone of exclusion
Certain frequencies will not be broadcast by cell towers within 2 miles of airport runways.
Why has this conflict arisen now?
The fight has erupted in part because federal agencies failed to move sooner to resolve their differences.
According to a commission ruling announced in March 2020, the FCC had been concerned about possible interference with cockpit equipment. According to the decision, one research did not indicate that adverse interference was possible under plausible circumstances, and an industry task group should continue to investigate the matter.
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In a letter written soon before an FCC auction started in December of that year, the FAA expressed its concerns and requested that the auction be postponed. The FAA’s last-minute fears were not shared by Trump administration officials, and the C-band sale went through. The aviation industry’s interest on the problem, however, did not fade. By late October, the two agencies had begun exchanging information that they had been looking for for months.
What does this imply for passengers on planes?
The activation of the new 5G service has already resulted in adjustments to travel arrangements for certain passengers, including the pre-emptive cancellation of some flights. Other airlines may make similar moves, but that remains to be seen. Weather conditions may be a factor.
(It’s possible that this article will be modified.)
—This essay was co-written by Drew FitzGerald and Doug Cameron.
Micah Maidenberg can be reached at [email protected]
Copyright ©2022 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Watch This Video-
The “5g flight cancellations” are the cause of concern for airlines and passengers. The new technology is set to be introduced in 2019 but it will take a while before it becomes mainstream.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are airlines Cancelling flights due to 5G?
A: Airlines are cancelling flights due to 5G because of the potentially hazardous conditions that could be caused if it were to come across their aircraft.
Is it safe to fly with 5G?
A: No, flying with 5G is not safe.
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