US airlines warn 5G wireless could disrupt thousands of daily flights

5G wireless could wreak havoc with flights US airlines warn.

 

Major US airlines warned that plans by wireless carriers to use spectrum for 5G wireless services starting January 5 could disrupt thousands of daily flights and cost air passengers $1.6 billion annually in delays.

 

United Airlines Chief Executive Scott Kirby recommended AT&T and Verizon Communications delay their plans to use C-Band spectrum for 5G wireless services, otherwise it could delay, divert or cancel about 4% of daily flights.

 

“It would be a catastrophic failure of government,” Kirby told reporters.

 

“Coming January 5, unless something changes, we will not be able to use radio altimeters at 40-something of the largest airports in the country,” he said.

 

The CEO warned that in the event of bad weather, cloud cover or even heavy smog “you could only do visual approaches essentially” at many of the main US airports.

 

Southwest Airlines agreed, with chief executive, Gary Kelly, telling the Senate hearing that if the FAA directive takes effect it “would be a significant setback” to its operations.

 

However, the wireless industry defended the technology, claiming that US airlines were overreacting.

 

“The aviation industry’s fearmongering relies on completely discredited information and deliberate distortions of fact,” CTIA, a wireless trade group, said.

 

The group said 5G operates safely and without causing harmful interference to aviation operations in nearly 40 countries around the world.

 

Scott Kirby said the FCC and FAA “need to get in a room and talk to each other and solve the problem,” adding that the issue “cannot be solved on the back of airlines.”