Airlines rally govts behind safe rollout of 5G networks

WORLD airlines ha ve urged governments to work closely with the a viation industry to ensure that aviation and incumbent aviation safety systems can safel y co- exist with new 5G services. The operators, under the aegis of the International Air Transport Association ( IATA), said that only a coordinated approach would safeguard risks to airlines’ operations. Air travel went chaotic early this year as some foreign airlines withdrew flight services into the United States citing safety concerns over 5G roll - out. Regulators and opera - tors are worried that 5G cellular antennas near some air - ports — not air tra vellers' mobile devices — could throw off readings from some aircraft equipment designed to tell pilots how far they are from the ground.

Operators, therefore, urged governments to work closely with the aviation industry to ensure that aviation and incumbent aviation safety systems could safely co- exist with new 5G services.

While IATA recognises the economic importance of making spectrum available to support next generation commercial wireless telecommunications, maintaining current levels of safety of passengers, flight crews, and aircraft must continue to be one of governments’ highest priorities.

IATA’S Director General, Willie Walsh, said the industry must avoid a repeat of the recent experience in the United States.

“In fact, many countries have successfully managed to facilitate the requirements of 5G service providers, while including necessary mitigations to preserve aviation safety and uninterrupted services. These include, for example, Brazil, Canada, France and Thailand,” Walsh said.

Before deciding on any spectrum allocations or conducting spectrum auctions, IATA called for governments to ensure close coordination and mutual understandings between national spectrum and aviation safety regulators so that each frequency allocation/ assignment is comprehensively studied and is proven not to adversely impact aviation safety and efficiency. Robust testing in coordination with a viation subject matter experts is critically important in providing necessary information.

Measures that have already been used by some governments include: ensure thorough testing, sufficient spectrum separation between 5G C- band deployments and 4.24.4 GHZ frequency band used by existing radio altimeters.

Other measures include, clearly codify and enforce the maximum power limit for 5G C- band transmission and downward tilting of 5G antennae particularly in the vicinity of flight paths. Establishment of sufficient 5G C- band prohibition and precautionary zones around

airports.