Avionics
NASA Reports Show Possible 5G Interference Issues
Airline pilots in the U.S. are submitting a significant number of reports about potential 5G cellphone tower interference.
Terminal, gates and ATC tower at Portland International Airport, Oregon (PDX)
Some of the reported potential 5G anomalies have occurred near Oregon's Portland International Airport. (Photo: © Steven Pavlov / https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Senapa)

Beginning last January, U.S. cellular telephone companies began deploying C-band 5G networks that operate on frequencies that could cause interference with radar altimeters installed in aircraft.

The FAA is urging aircraft manufacturers to work with avionics suppliers to develop mitigations for the interference such as electronic filters. At least one avionics manufacturer—FreeFlight Systems—is now offering 5G-resistant radar altimeters but it is not a quick process for airlines to replace equipment in large fleets of aircraft. The FAA also issued Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin AIR-21-18R2 in response to this issue.

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