Status: 12/22/2021 9:17 a.m.
In the dispute over the security of 5G in the aviation industry, Airbus and Boeing have positioned themselves against the start of technology in the USA. The aircraft manufacturers warned of “enormous negative effects on the aviation industry”.
In the USA, shortly before the planned introduction of 5G mobile communications, the dispute over risks to flight safety is building up. The two aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus called on the government to postpone the introduction of 5G cellular communications in the C-band spectrum from AT&T and Verizon, which is planned for early January, due to security concerns.
“5G interference could affect the safety of flight operations and have an enormous negative impact on the aviation industry,” said a letter from the company to the US Department of Transportation, as reported by the Reuters news agency.
US airlines warned of possible interference
Airlines and the FAA had previously expressed concerns about possible interference from 5G with sensitive aircraft electronics such as radio altimeters. Telecommunications providers AT&T and Verizon’s plans to use C-band spectrum for 5G cellular services are “the biggest and most damaging problem we face. We want nothing more than to work on a solution,” said Scott Kirby, United Airlines CEO at a US Senate hearing.
The Airlines for America (A4A) trade group cited that if the latest FAA regulations on how to deal with potential interference from 5G had been in effect in 2019 before the pandemic, for example, “approximately 345,000 passenger flights, 32 million passengers and 5400 cargo flights in the form of delayed flights, diversions or cancellations. “
Gary Kelly, chief executive of Southwest Airlines, said the FAA policy “will have a significant impact on our operations once it goes into effect on January 5th.”
In its latest guideline, the FAA calls for a revision of the flight manuals for airplanes and helicopters: some flight maneuvers that require radio altimeter data should be banned for safety reasons when 5G C-band broadband signals are available. 5G could lead to possible interference with sensitive aircraft electronics.
Mobilfunkverband criticizes the aviation industry
In November, AT&T and Verizon agreed to postpone commercial rollouts of the C-band wireless service until January 5 after the FAA raised concerns. Cellular Association CTIA said 5G was safe and accused the aviation industry of fueling fear and twisting facts.
The US Pilots Association said that the discussion was at a dead end. “This is a big problem for passengers, freight forwarders and the American economy.”
EASA is also investigating possible 5G disruptions
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has long been investigating whether 5G can interfere with the radio altimeters used in aviation. The 5G frequency bands in Europe are not as close as the one planned in the USA to the frequency band used by aircraft.
So far, no incidents are known in Europe or can be derived from available technical data from aircraft and equipment manufacturers, said an EASA spokeswoman. Nevertheless, the situation will continue to be closely monitored. The agency also exchanges with the US aviation security agency FAA about their concerns. The German Air Traffic Control (DFS) also stated that the on-board electronics had not been disrupted so far.
The member states of the European Union are responsible for the placement of mobile radio stations near airports, explained the EASA. Different countries used – as planned in the USA – the C-band. EASA is in talks with the states concerned and also with the European counterpart of the Federal Network Agency CEPT. The CEPT is working on a study on the safe parallel use of 5G and radio altimeters.
Airbus and Boeing warn: 5G endangers flight safety
Franziska Hoppen, ARD Washington, December 22nd, 2021 8:59 am