Many major international airlines have made adjustments to some US flights due to the potential risks that may occur in the transition to 5G technology. Many flights were suspended. Despite the telecommunications and aviation industries colliding, Verizon and AT&T, the country’s two major telecommunications operators, ushered in the 5G era for smartphone users.
Thus, the two companies put into practice the C-band 5G technology, which they normally aim to put into practice as of January 5, with a 2-week delay as of January 19, upon the request of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
While the reactions from the aviation industry were effective in AT&T and Verizon’s delay of the transition to 5G, the two companies decided to stop the transition to 5G technology at some base stations near airports due to concerns.
THEY COME AGAINST
While telecommunications companies planned the transition to 5G for faster wireless internet service in early December last year, the plan faced objections from aviation safety regulators on the grounds that it could pose potential risks to cockpit equipment.
While the telecommunications sector argued that the service would not pose any danger to the concerns in the aviation sector, this situation brought the two sectors face to face.
On December 21, 2021, the CEOs of Boeing and Airbus, the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers, sent a co-signed letter to the US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg on the subject of 5G phone service, warning that this could cause great harm to the aviation industry.
In the letter, it was argued that 5G technology would negatively affect the ability of aircraft to operate safely, while a call was made to “postpone the transition to 5G technology”.
On the other hand, groups in the sector advocating the transition to 5G technology accused the aviation industry of “playing fear-mongering and distorting the facts” and warned that delaying the transition to this technology would result in a loss of 10 billion dollars in the economy.
AIRLINE COMPANIES MADE A “CHAOS” WARNING
Major US airline companies also warned that it could cause chaos in air traffic shortly before the transition to 5G technology.
The executives of many companies in the aviation industry, including American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines, signed a joint letter regarding the danger that 5G may pose for air transportation.
In the letter, signed by companies such as UPS Airlines, Alaska Air, Atlas Air, JetBlue Airways and FedEx, it was pointed out that flights could be subject to cancellations, delays and route changes.
MANY FLIGHTS SUSPENDED
Many major international airlines have made adjustments to some US flights due to the potential risks that may arise during the transition to 5G technology.
Companies such as Emirates, Air India, All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, Lufthansa and British Airways announced that they are making changes to some flights, citing the 5G uncertainty.
While some airline companies suspended flights, some stopped the flights of Boeing 777 model planes, which are expected to encounter the most possible technical difficulties.
Following AT&T and Verizon’s decision to halt the transition to 5G technology at some base stations near airports, some airlines have decided to resume their suspended flights.
Finally, the FAA has allowed more aircraft to land in low visibility conditions, including some models of Boeing 777 aircraft used by many international airlines despite the rollout of 5G technology from C-band.
WHY IS THE AVIATION INDUSTRY CONCERNED?
Concerns are raised as to whether the new 5G signals are affecting aircraft equipment that helps planes land in harsh weather conditions and avoid accidents.
This equipment, called an altimeter, uses radio frequencies to measure the distance between the aircraft and the ground.
Aviation experts worry that the cellular frequencies that telecommunications companies plan to enable could affect altimeters and potentially endanger aircraft.
The 5G service operates on a frequency known as C-band, which is close to that used by altimeters.
While C-band 5G operates in the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz range, the FAA notes that this frequency is close to the 4.2 to 4.4 GHz range used by the altimeter. It is stated that the main cause of concern is this proximity in frequencies.
It is known that the European Union (EU) determined the range of 3.4 to 3.8 GHz for mid-range 5G frequencies in 2019, it is noteworthy that this frequency is lower than the frequency in the 5G service offered in the USA.
Telecommunications industry representatives, on the other hand, argue that connections over C-band will not interfere with cockpit devices, citing Federal Communications Commission technical experts and analysis by other regulators around the world.
“5G’S SECURITY RISK DEPENDS ON THE COUNTRY AND THE POWER OF THE TRANSMITTERS”
Diana Furchtgott-Roth, Former Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology at the US Department of Transportation, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that whether 5G technology poses a threat to airline security depends on the country and the power of the transmitters.
Furchtgott-Roth, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at George Washington University, stated that the power emissivity of American 5G towers is 2.5 times that of France, and that the antennas are facing up, not down.
Furchtgott-Roth pointed out that it is not forbidden for towers to be close to airports in the USA, as in some countries, “This leads to potential interference with altimeters, which are part of aircraft navigation systems. However, the FAA imposes restrictions on landing of aircraft in bad weather or poor visibility conditions, such flights are safe. “The FAA will not compromise on security.” said.
Pointing out that the FAA is continuing its tests to find out which altimeters are affected by 5G towers, Furchtgott-Roth stated that the problem can be solved by detecting the problematic devices.
Furchtgott-Roth noted that the Federal Communications Commission may require telecommunications companies to point antennas down, reduce power, and create buffer zones around airports.
Stating that the FAA will never endanger the safety of the public and will continue to not allow aircraft to land in unsafe conditions, Furchtgott-Roth stated that in such cases, the FAA will ask airline companies to cancel flights or redirect them to other areas where there is no 5G tower.
(AA)