January 18, 2022
The airline industry is warning something is coming that may cancel or delay about a thousand flights per day. And some international airlines are already canceling flights.
Is it because of flight staffing shortages?
No.
Is it because of weather delays.
No.
The airlines and airplane manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus say it’s this – and the 5G network that’s set to come with it.
AT&T and Verizon are set to flip the switch on 5G throughout the country tomorrow after a several delays. But today — both companies announced they will delay turning on the 5G towers around certain airports again.
Why? Because of aviation safety concerns. It turns out the 5G radio spectrum is close to the frequency used by a plane’s “radar altimeter.” That’s the device that pilots use to measure the altitude of an aircraft and navigate planes during some of the most critical parts of flight.
Now – none of this is new. The FCC approved this roll out more than two years ago and airline industry has known this day was coming. The telecoms companies have said they’ve had plenty of time to prepare for 5G and point to other countries where 5G is already available and planes have been flying just fine with some 5G restrictions near airports.
The FAA and FCC have been trying to moderate the tug of war between the airline industry and the telecoms industry. Keep in mind the FCC opened bidding on its 5G “C-band” spectrum back in 2020 and those frequencies sold to multiple telecoms companies for a total more than $81 billion.
Read the President’s statement on today’s limited 5G delay from AT&T and Verizon here.
