Airlines
Prospect of 5G Interference with Avionics a Long-term Concern
The RTCA has established a committee to address frequency spectrum conflicts with upcoming developments in avionics technology.
Concerns over interference by 5G networks to radar altimeters will likely persist as upcoming avionics equipment operates in similar frequency bands.
Concerns over interference by 5G networks to radar altimeters will likely persist as upcoming avionics equipment operates in similar frequency bands.

While telecommunications and aviation interests await the result of consultations between the FAA and the Federal Communications Commission over how to safely roll out 5G telecommunications networks around airports, the prospect of those systems’ interference with radar altimeters in airplanes remains a point of contention. Although pressure from the FAA, airlines, and aerospace groups resulted in an agreement by U.S. telecom giants Verizon and AT&T to delay the introduction of the networks until January 19, standards for the frequency band fidelity of radar altimeters haven’t changed since the 1970s, leaving the likely prospect of the need to limit the strength of 5G signals around major airports or risk flight disruptions and deviations.