FAA head to House on 5 G wireless towers near airports

In this illustration taken January 18, 2022, 5 G words and an airplane toy are placed on a printed U.S. flag. REUTERS Dado Ruvic Illustration File Photo

WASHINGTON, Jan 26, Reuters - The head of the Federal Aviation Administration FAA is expected to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 3 on the new C-Band 5 G deployment and its impact on aviation safety, sources told Reuters on Wednesday.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is expected to hear from FAA Administrator Steve Dickson along with aviation and wireless industry officials. They include the head of Airlines for America, a trade group representing passenger and cargo airlines, and the Aerospace Industries Association, which represents airplane manufacturers.

Chairman Peter DeFazio said in a statement to Reuters that Administrator Dickson and all of our witnesses come prepared for a robust discussion about how the goal of a successful 5 G deployment can co-exist with the safety of our skies.

AT&T T.N and Verizon Communications VZ.N agreed on January 18 to delay switching on new telecom towers near key airports even as they turned on the new 5 G C-Band service.

The FAA warned that radio altimeters are used to give data on height above ground for bad weather landings and 5 G technology could cause interference.

Major U.S. passenger and cargo carriers warned last week of a potential catastrophic aviation crisis and said that the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will be grounded without a delay of 5 G deployment near some airports. The FAA, which did not comment on Dickson's testimony, said Tuesday it issued approvals for additional altimeters that allow 90 percent of the U.S. commercial aviation fleet to perform low-visibility landings at airports where 5 G wireless is deployed.

The FAA cleared seven additional altimeters, bringing the total approved to 20.

Sources told Reuters that Verizon won't turn on about 500 towers near airports, or less than 10% of their planned deployment, while carriers and the administration work on a permanent solution.

There are still serious concerns about what happens when wireless carriers turn on towers near airports, because of the issue that is disrupting some landings in poor weather at smaller airports.

The operational impacts of airline travel are now being seen, DeFazio said. All interested parties must come together to address these impacts and implement long-term solutions that will increase safety and reduce disruptions for affected airports. Airplane models with cleared altimeters include Boeing BA.N 717, 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, 787 MD 10-11, Airbus AIR.PA A 300, A 310, A 220, A 320, A 330, A 340, A 350, A 380, and Embraer EMBR 3. SA 120, 170 and 190 regional jets, all CL 600 CRJ regional jets, DHC 8 and ATR turboprops.