NBAA Congressional Statement Stresses Importance of Greater FAA, FCC Collaboration on 5G
/In a statement submitted at a hearing of the Aviation Subcommittee of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) reaffirmed the critical need for greater collaboration between government agencies to properly address aviation safety concerns stemming from the rollout of new 5G wireless telecommunications networks.
Last month, Verizon and AT&T deployed new, nationwide 5G networks operating between 3.7-3.98 gigahertz, adjacent to “C-band” frequency spectrum utilized by radar altimeters that measure an aircraft’s real-time height over terrain and obstacles. Interference concerns led the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to restrict certain aircraft operations dependent on radar altimeter data in 5G environments.
NBAA further lauded the FAA’s diligence in issuing alternative methods of compliance (AMOCs) for aircraft to safely operate in 5G environments, although the agency’s focus on commercial airliners has delayed similar AMOCs for general aviation and business aircraft. Currently, the FAA must also reissue all 5G AMOCs every 30 days, compounding delays in issuing new AMOCs.
The resulting situation highlights the need for greater interagency collaboration not only today, NBAA summarized, but even more so in the future, as emerging aviation technologies, including advanced air mobility aircraft with autonomous capabilities, create new wireless spectrum challenges.
Additional information about the effects of 5G on business aviation is available at nbaa.org/5G