Boeing and Airbus Executives Want the Biden Administration to Delay 5G Rollout

Executives from Boeing and Airbus Americas sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg saying that 5G transmissions “adversely affect the ability of aircraft to safely operate”. Both Boeing CEO David Calhoun and Airbus Americas CEO Jeffery Knittel appeal to delay the 5G rollout.

According to the CEOs, they have a new proposal that aims to limit the power of 5G transmissions near airports. Also, the executives call on the Biden administration to coordinate with the Federal Communications Commission and adapt the said proposal. The executives said that the effects of 5G “are massive”.

Earlier this month, the Federal Aviation Administration announced a new rule. This prohibits pilots to use certain features such as auto-landing at low altitudes where 5G wireless signals can interfere with instruments onboard.

The FAA also said that 5G signals can potentially lead to faulty readings making flying hazardous in low-visibility conditions.

The executives cited in the letter the estimate published by Airlines for America. According to Airlines for America, the FAA restrictions could potentially disrupt 345,000 passenger flights. The agency in its own estimate said that it could potentially affect 6,800 US airplanes and 1,800 helicopters.

Use of 5G in 40 Other Countries

According to tech experts, all wireless communications can interfere with planes, and not just 5G. Harold Feld, a telecom expert of consumer group Public Knowledge said in a November blog that “about 40 other countries have approved the use of 5G in C-Band”.

He added that “Japan in particular operates 5G networks today much closer to the altimeter band than the 220 MHz separation adopted by the FCC”. And so far, there are no reports of harmful interferences.

However, the aviation industry argues that it is not exactly the same. South Korea and Japan use less than the power levels in the US. Canada, on the other hand, has an interim rule that requires antennas to be slanted downward. And in Europe, the guard band used is 100 megahertz which is wider than the one in the US.

On Wednesday, the aviation industry and telecom officials released a joint statement. The statement said that “We are pleased  that after productive discussions we will be working together to share the available data from all parties to identify the specific areas of concern for aviation”.