FAA approves more of US fleet for low visibility landings after 5G deployment, some flights canceled
The FAA on Thursday cleared more of the US fleet to make low-visibility landings after the launch of new 5G wireless service. The FAA has warned that it would limit landings in certain low-visibility conditions due to concerns that 5G signals could interfere with crucial aircraft equipment. As winter storms and other adverse weather popped up Thursday, the FAA said it may have to divert some flights. Eighteen flights in the US were forced to divert on Thursday, while more than 600 were canceled amid bad weather around the country, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware. At the center of the issue is aircraft radio altimeters, which tell pilots how far the plane is from the ground. The altimeters use frequencies that sit next to those used for the new 5G service, raising concerns about aircraft receiving inaccurate data. The new service began on Wednesday after two delays since December. Verizon and AT&T, at the last minute, agreed to temporarily delay the rollout near airports temporarily after airlines warned federal officials that the signals could cause widespread disruptions and “economic calamity.” “Due to the nationwide expansion of 5G C-band and the potential for radio altimeter interference, [air traffic control] has identified airports and/or geographic regions that may be impacted by meteorological conditions leading to a diverted flight,” the FAA said. Airports in Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore and San Francisco were among those affected, it said. “We simply don’t compromise on safety and when FAA is telling us it is not safe to land, one we don’t have any discretion in that, but two even if we did we wouldn’t do it,” United CEO Scott Kirby said Thursday. The FAA by late Wednesday had approved 62% of the US fleet to land in low visibility, up from 45% over the weekend. The agency is planning to approve more as early as Thursday. Approved altimeters are on Boeing 717s, 737s, 747s, 757s, 767s and 777s as well as Airbus A310s, A320s, A321s, A350s and A380s. That rose to 78% on Thursday and included smaller regional aircraft: Embraer 170 and Embraer 190.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2022-01-21/general/faa-approves-more-of-us-fleet-for-low-visibility-landings-after-5g-deployment-some-flights-canceled
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FAA approves more of US fleet for low visibility landings after 5G deployment, some flights canceled
The FAA on Thursday cleared more of the US fleet to make low-visibility landings after the launch of new 5G wireless service. The FAA has warned that it would limit landings in certain low-visibility conditions due to concerns that 5G signals could interfere with crucial aircraft equipment. As winter storms and other adverse weather popped up Thursday, the FAA said it may have to divert some flights. Eighteen flights in the US were forced to divert on Thursday, while more than 600 were canceled amid bad weather around the country, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware. At the center of the issue is aircraft radio altimeters, which tell pilots how far the plane is from the ground. The altimeters use frequencies that sit next to those used for the new 5G service, raising concerns about aircraft receiving inaccurate data. The new service began on Wednesday after two delays since December. Verizon and AT&T, at the last minute, agreed to temporarily delay the rollout near airports temporarily after airlines warned federal officials that the signals could cause widespread disruptions and “economic calamity.” “Due to the nationwide expansion of 5G C-band and the potential for radio altimeter interference, [air traffic control] has identified airports and/or geographic regions that may be impacted by meteorological conditions leading to a diverted flight,” the FAA said. Airports in Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore and San Francisco were among those affected, it said. “We simply don’t compromise on safety and when FAA is telling us it is not safe to land, one we don’t have any discretion in that, but two even if we did we wouldn’t do it,” United CEO Scott Kirby said Thursday. The FAA by late Wednesday had approved 62% of the US fleet to land in low visibility, up from 45% over the weekend. The agency is planning to approve more as early as Thursday. Approved altimeters are on Boeing 717s, 737s, 747s, 757s, 767s and 777s as well as Airbus A310s, A320s, A321s, A350s and A380s. That rose to 78% on Thursday and included smaller regional aircraft: Embraer 170 and Embraer 190.<br/>
