https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/airlines-ask-biden-administration-for-more-5g-protections-to-avoid-catastrophic-disruptions/ar-AASSesK?li=BBnb7KzThe airline industry on Monday called on the Biden administration to block any 5G wireless transmission within a two mile radius of airport runways, citing the potential for thousands of flight cancellations and disruptions once the technology is switched on in just days.
Airlines for America, which represents most of the airline and cargo industry, warned that the 5G activation set to go live Wednesday will disrupt thousands of passengers and cargo shipments despite workarounds put into place by the Federal Aviation Administration to minimize interference where possible.
A letter obtained by POLITICO, calling for the action was signed by CEOs of Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, FedEx and UPS’ airline units, among others, as well as the head of A4A.
“Immediate intervention is needed to avoid significant operational disruption to air passengers, shippers, supply chain and delivery of needed medical supplies” such as vaccines, the officials said in the letter, addressed to National Economic Council Director Brian Deese, Federal Communications Commission Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Steve Dickson.
The letter urged the officials to “take whatever action necessary” to make sure that 5G is not deployed in places where air traffic control towers are too close to runways, until the FAA can figure out how it “can be safely accomplished without catastrophic disruption.”
The CEOs said that airplane manufacturers have told them that absent remediations, “huge swaths of the operating fleet that may need to be indefinitely grounded” and that tens of thousands of Americans could get stranded overseas.
Airline executives say 5G rollout will cause significant flight disruptions---------------------------WASHINGTON (TND) — The countdown to what airline executives are calling a “catastrophic” crisis is on.
On Wednesday, AT&T and Verizon will roll out the first 5G C-band towers and airlines say the service could make a large number of airplanes unusable, stranding travelers and worsening supply chain issues.
The Federal Aviation Administration says instruments like altimeters, which measure an aircraft’s distance from the ground, may be affected by 5G interference as well as low-visibility operations.
So far, only 45% of commercial planes have been cleared to perform low-visibility landings at airports near new 5G towers. The FAA says the move opens up runways at as many as 48 of the 88 airports most directly affected by interference. But airlines say that does not include many major hubs.
"Even with the approvals granted by the FAA today, U.S. airlines will not be able to operate the vast majority of passenger and cargo flights due to the FAA's 5G-related flight restrictions unless action is taken prior to the planned Jan. 19 rollout," said trade group Airlines for America, which represents several major airlines.
In a letter to federal officials obtained by Politico, Airlines for America said, “The ripple effects across both passenger and cargo operations, our workforce and the broader economy are simply incalculable. Every one of the passenger and cargo carriers will be struggling to get people, shipments, planes and crews where they need to be. To be blunt, the nation’s commerce will grind to a halt.”