CEOs of major airlines have warned the Biden administration to limit the use of the new 5G technology near airports. This is supposed to be launched on Wednesday, as not limiting this will result in “catastrophic” consequences.
Airlines warned about disastrous events for allowing 5G near runways
Top executives of many airlines wrote a letter to Biden’s officials, as reported by Reuters; this letter mentioned aircraft manufacturers are worried about the potential intervention of the 5G technology with airplanes equipment.
The letter also indicated the supply chain woes can get worse if the situation goes untackled.
On Sunday, the Federal Aviation Industry (FAA) stated it cleared 45 percent of the commercial airplane fleet to do low-visibility landings on airports with the deployment of 5G.
However, these approvals do not include the names of many big airports.
FAA publishes list of #airports that will have C Band buffer zones #5G #aviation #policyhttps://t.co/Yd0q4R4bwQ
— 5G Americas (@5GAmericas) January 10, 2022
According to airlines, the new c-Band 5G technology can ground many widebody airplanes, as they would become unusable after the rollout of 5G by Verizon (VZ.N) and AT&T (T.N).
This could result in thousands of Americans being stranded abroad, as planes won’t be able to bring them back, the CEOs mentioned.
The FAA already warned some instruments in aircraft, including the altimeters, can hamper flight operations during low visibility.
As per the letter, the vast majority of planes (not only for traveling purposes, but also for shipping) will be grounded, if immediate action is not taken by the government.
Boeing warned for delayed operations going forward
Boeing, a leading plane maker of the world, said on Monday the impacted airports can see service disruption.
However, the aerospace company claimed they can try to work with the US government and different airline companies to come up with a workable solution.
Exclusive-U.S. House Democrats urge FCC to avoid potential air safety wireless danger https://t.co/BEo32ayBXP 5 G C band antenna use,no closer to resolving the serious concerns that the use of the C-band for 5G would create harmful interference."? Prime data magnetic wave cause-
— s.k.jayaraj s.k.jayaraj (@skjayarajskjay1) November 21, 2021
Alaska Airlines, Atlas Airlines, JetBlue Airways, UPS Airlines, and FedEx Express also signed the letter; this suggested urgent action is needed, as the nation’s commerce infrastructure is at stake.
The letter was sent to Brian Deese, the White House National Economic Council director, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Federal Communications Commissions chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, and Steve Dickson, who is an administrator at FAA.
AT&T and Verizon already delayed their plans to launch the technology multiple times since they won the C-Band spectrum in an $80 billion auction last year.
They also agreed to make buffer zones near almost 50 airports to keep the technological intervention in flight operations to a minimum.
When CEOs of some prominent airlines (alongside Boeing’s Chief Executive Dabe Calhoun) had a lengthy call with Buttigieg on Sunday, airlines demanded 5G can be implemented anywhere in the world, except within two miles radius of runways.
As a result, they asked the secretary for immediate intervention in the matter.
This is to avoid flight disruptions in passenger flights, as well as those needed to ship medical equipment and other commodities.
Arguing against the popular narrative that technology would only disrupt airplanes in poor weather conditions, airlines indicated some airplanes will need to be permanently grounded, irrespective of weather conditions.
