Collaboration In Industry, Government Could Pool Resources and Solutions

The NBAA joined a range of organizations and stakeholders, with aerospace industry figures from around the world, joining to call for a delay of 5G network rollout in the C-band until the safety and efficacy of the National Airspace System is ensured. To develop a communal response to the new equipment, and create workable solutions to the problem, the group proposes a joint working group between industry and the Biden administration. 

The NBAA authored a letter in December of 2020 to little fanfare, warning of the same things as the recent FAA Special Airworthiness Bulletin. While Verizon and T-Mobile have agreed to slightly postpone their intended network activation in the contentious, possibly-interfering frequency range, telecom companies have maintained that the activation will have no effect on aircraft equipment. Actual evaluation and testing has yet to absolve the networks of anomalous interference. The creation of a joint working group would allow the participants to pool their testing, resources, data, and results as they seek to study the entirety of 5g effects on radar altimeters. With decades of equipment across a myriad of aircraft types, it is a daunting task to assure proper function without widespread support and assistance. 

“We believe it is incumbent on the National Economic Council to work with the FCC and FAA to convene a joint industry working group and continue to delay the deployment of 5G technologies in this band until the safety and efficiency of the NAS is ensured. The goal of this working group would be to reach acceptable mitigations,” the statement reads. “Aviation will not be able to maintain the current level of public safety and economic activity without support from the Biden-Harris Administration and the implementation of mitigations by the cellular industry.”

“NBAA remains committed to working with regulators and our industry partners to identify workable solutions for all parties,” said Heidi Williams, NBAA senior director for air traffic services and infrastructure. “While high-speed data and communications hold many benefits, we must first and foremost ensure such systems do not compromise the safety and integrity of operations within our national airspace system."

FMI: www.nbaa.com