Big U.S. airlines, represented by their trade association, have asked the country’s top aviation and communications regulators, and Pete Buttigieg, the Transportation Secretary, is to stop wireless carriers from rolling out 5G services close to the airport.
In a letter, Monday, Airlines for America warned of catastrophic disruptions hitting shipping and traveling public if C- band frequency was put within two miles from aircraft fly. The airline association said it was ready to work with the carriers and government to find an amicable solution.
Mobile carriers Verizon Communication and AT&T Inc. had agreed with the federal regulators early this month to launch their services on January 19. Airlines are concerned that the 5G signals could interfere with the aircraft’s instruments which measure its altitude.
As per Bloomberg News, JetBlue Airways Corp, CEO Robin Hayes, in a memo to staff, said that the airline faces potential disruption to its flights starting Wednesday, which will further stress the air system, which is fragile and affect the traveling public.
According to Hayes, there is a lack of transparency in data behind the Rollout of 5G services near the airports. Concerns have increased with the possible interference with the aircraft equipment. The move by wireless carriers can setback the aviation industry, which is recovering from the pandemic.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had approved Sunday to allow some airlines to operate within the zones where the new 5G services are in use now. This will significantly reduce the potential impact on the airline’s flight schedules. The FAA allows aircraft to land in low visibility in 48 out of the 88 U.S. airports with equipment for such arrivals.
Two Congressman, Rick Larsen, chair of the aviation Subcommittee, and Peter DeFazio, chair of Transportation and infrastructure House Committee have also requested the regulators to delay the implementation Monday.
In a letter to the regulators, the two democrats wrote that the aviation industry and FAA must be given more time to thoroughly assess deployment risk to avoid any disastrous consequences to the national airspace system.
Reuters had reported earlier on the letter from Airlines for America. The latter represent airlines such as United Airlines Holdings Inc., American Airlines Group Inc., and cargo operator FedEx Corp.
