In a sector already weakened by the health crisis, aviation professionals fear disturbances linked to the proximity of frequencies between 5G and aircraft measuring devices.
The new use of the 5G network has already worried aviation players, because of its frequency very close to those of altimeters, devices allowing planes to calculate certain measurements such as altitude. The transmission frequency of radio altimeters is between 4.2 and 4.4 GHz. That of 5G is around 3.5 GHz.
This frequency proximity could, according to industry players, cause, among other things, low visibility maneuvers. Especially during storms and strong fogs, which are recurrent in North America during the winter period. This would therefore lead to cascading delays and cancellations.
In a context of crisis, where airlines have been trying to keep their heads above water since the start of the pandemic, these potential dysfunctions are worrying.
In its most pessimistic projections, the Airlines for America association announces at least 350,000 disrupted flights per year simply because of the use of the 5G network, Bloomberg reports.
“Unfounded information”
However, telephone professionals maintain that these fears are unfounded.
“The aviation industry cultivates a culture of fear based on unfounded information, and deliberately mistaken facts. 5G works securely, in around 40 countries around the world, and without causing interference that could be harmful to the aviation industry, says Nick Ludlum, one of the vice-presidents of the American association of telecom companies CTIA, of which operators AT&T and Verizon are members.
Last February, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation expressed fears going in the same direction. In particular, it recommended the extinction of devices with 5G on board airplanes and all types of flying devices.