Aviation and telecom groups in the United States have reached a consensus on data sharing to help resolve safety concerns related to the new 5G wireless service.
According to CNBC, Verizon Communications and AT&T are set to roll out 5G on January 5, 2022. Aviation groups and the Federal Aviation Administration have since expressed safety concerns on possible interference with aircraft altimeters.
The wireless trade group has said 5G will not interfere with altimeters, noting other countries have rolled out 5G without issues.
Wireless trade group CTIA, Airlines for America, and the Aerospace Industries Association said, “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.”
The FAA last month said 5G service could interfere with aircraft radio altimeters. Earlier this month, it issued an order that could prohibit pilots from using radio altimeters to land when visibility is low.
The FAA said, “The FAA is encouraged that avionics manufacturers and wireless companies are taking steps to test how dozens of radio altimeters will perform in the high-powered 5G environment envisioned for the United States.”
United Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Scott Kirby, said, “If we go back to decades-old procedures and technology for flying airplanes, cancel thousands of flights per day. It will be a catastrophic failure of the government.”
