- Jonathan Josephs
- Business and Commerce Correspondent – BP News
Airlines are concerned regarding the interference of 5G signals with navigation devices and altitude determination during landing operations
The 10 largest US airlines warned that the operation of the fifth generation networks for mobile phones, which is expected to be operational on Wednesday, will cause “huge disruption” to their flights.
These companies indicated that operating the service would cause a “completely avoidable economic disaster.”
Airlines are concerned regarding the interference of 5G network signals 5G, which uses the “C” frequency range of radio waves, with the frequency waves used in air navigation devices, especially during bad weather conditions.
This came in a joint letter sent by these companies, to the US Federal Aviation Authority.
“We urgently need urgent intervention to avoid operational disruption that might affect travelers, shipping chains and the supply of medicines and medical products, including vaccines,” the letter said.
The BBC has seen the letter addressed to a number of officials, including the Minister of Transport, Pete Battigieg, and the head of the US Federal Aviation Authority.
The BBC has learned that negotiations are currently taking place at the highest level in the US administration, regarding what was described as a “very complicated situation”.
And airlines are demanding that the fifth generation networks be removed “regarding three kilometers, from the runways of the airports that will be affected, according to controls issued by the Federal Aviation Authority” before the launch of the service on Wednesday.
“We call on the Federal Aviation Authority to determine the locations of the towers of the fifth generation network, which are close to airports and runways, which will need to be transported farther away, to ensure safety for passengers, and to avoid sabotaging flights,” the letter said.
Airbus and Boeing had warned of the network’s dangers to flights weeks ago in a rare joint statement.
The ten companies said in their letter, “Aircraft manufacturers have informed us that a large part of the airline’s currently operating fleet may be out of service.”
And she continued, “In addition to this chaos at the local level, the lack of aircraft might affect flights, and leave tens of thousands of Americans stranded in various countries of the world.”
And the US Federal Aviation Authority, which oversees the safety of flights and air transport, in the United States, announced that “regarding 45 percent of the American commercial transport fleet, will have to make landings to runways amid poor visibility conditions, at airports adjacent to the fifth generation network towers. “.
The authority added that it had authorized the installation of “two radio network communication devices, to determine the altitude, in a number of aircraft of the Boeing and Airbus companies, but despite that, some flights may be affected at some airports.”
The authority indicated that it will remain in contact with aircraft manufacturers, to find out how the altimeter machines and locations work during flights, and how to avoid being affected by the fifth generation networks.
picture released, Getty Images
American telecommunications companies have invested billions of dollars in developing mobile service networks and the Internet, compatible with the fifth generation, which is characterized by higher speed and wider connectivity.
The network’s work was delayed several times, due to concerns raised by airlines, and therefore the launch of the fifth generation networks was postponed, from the end of last year, to the beginning of this month, and then once more to Wednesday, and it may be postponed once more.
The US Wireless Trade Association – known as CTIA – has said 5G networks are secure, accusing the airline industry of raising concerns and distorting facts.
“Delays will cause real damage. Delaying the offering by one year will cause a loss of $50 billion in economic growth as our country recovers from the effects of the pandemic,” the union’s CEO, Meredith Atwell Becker, said last month in a blog post.
