Boeing and Airbus, two of the largest commercial airplane manufacturers, have joined the conversation about possible interference to aircraft tools from 5G’s C-Band spectrum. Like the FAA, they’re urging the Biden Administration to delay the rollout of service next month.
Statements from the manufacturing companies were sent in the form of a letter to the Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg, to say the January 5 rollout could cause interference that could “adversely affect the ability of aircraft to safely operate.”
The CEOs presented the idea of a new proposal – limit the power of 5G transmissions near airports, and call on the Biden administration to work with the FCC to adopt such a plan.
Indications were made that amongst the trouble caused by the pandemic, it is not worth the risk of deploying the service without restrictions. Such as the new rule the FAA announced earlier this month. It forbids pilots from using auto-landing and other certain flight systems at low altitudes where 5G wireless signals could interfere with onboard instruments that measure a plane’s distance to the ground.
The rule was characterized as urgent, so the FAA bypassed the typical public feedback process in issuing the restrictions. It is that important, as it affects more than 6,800 US airplanes and dozens of aircraft manufacturers, and could lead to disruptions in some flight routes involving low-visibility conditions, which obviously poses potential risks.