As Verizon and AT&T prepare to flip the switch on their nationwide 5G networks, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) created a new resource to answer any questions pilots may have about the possible effects of 5G on radar altimeters and other avionics.
NBAA.org/5G includes a detailed summary of the aviation industry’s concerns about possible interference, as well as information about what to expect after the Jan. 19, 2022, 5G roll-out date, including:
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Potential Effects on Aircraft Equipment and Capabilities
- FAA Airworthiness Directives (ADs), Special Airworthiness Information Bulletins (SAIBs) and other regulatory publications
- NBAA news articles, press releases, webinars and podcasts detailing concerns about signal interference
“We expect this situation to evolve rapidly as the clock ticks down toward the rollout of these new high-speed communications networks,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “NBAA has developed this new resource to provide the latest, up-to-the-minute information to help operators understand what they should know and what they should do.”
On Jan. 4, Verizon and AT&T voluntarily agreed to a two-week delay of the deployment of their 5G networks. These networks will operate within the C-Band frequency spectrum between 3.7-3.98 gigahertz, adjacent to frequencies used by radar altimeters in most commercial airliners and many business aircraft to provide real-time measurements of an aircraft’s clearance over terrain or other obstacles.
Bolen noted the new resource will be regularly updated as new information is made available ahead of the Jan. 19 implementation date. NBAA is also continuing its work with the FAA and other aviation groups to ensure pilots can fly safely with minimal operational impact from the 5G rollout.