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Tag: FAA

  • FAA Takes Steps to Prevent Database Errors That Grounded Flights

    FAA Takes Steps to Prevent Database Errors That Grounded Flights

    The US Federal Aviation Administration has implemented safeguards to prevent database errors that grounded flights in January.

    On January 11, a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system outage impacted some 11,000 flights in the US. In the days after the incident, the FAA issued a statement explaining the cause:

    A preliminary FAA review of last week’s outage of the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system determined that contract personnel unintentionally deleted files while working to correct synchronization between the live primary database and a backup database. The agency has so far found no evidence of a cyber-attack or malicious intent. The FAA continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the outage.

    The FAA made the necessary repairs to the system and has taken steps to make the NOTAM system more resilient. The agency is acting quickly to adopt any other lessons learned in our efforts to ensure the continuing robustness of the nation’s air traffic control system.

    According to Reuters, the FAA has implemented “a one-hour synchronization delay for one of the backup databases. This action will prevent data errors from immediately reaching that backup database.” The FAA also said it “now requires at least two individuals to be present during the maintenance of the (messaging) system, including one federal manager.”

  • Airlines Have Until 2024 to Mitigate 5G Issues

    Airlines Have Until 2024 to Mitigate 5G Issues

    The Federal Aviation Administration has given airlines until 2024 to install equipment to mitigate issues caused by 5G.

    Verizon and AT&T spent tens of billions to purchase mid-band spectrum for their 5G rollout. Unfortunately, the spectrum is very close to that used by aircraft altimeters, leading to concerns that 5G could cause dangerous interference with flights.

    After negotiations and multiple concessions, Verizon and AT&T agreed to limit their mid-band 5G deployment around airports for a limited time, but the airline industry was unable to meet the agreed upon deadline of July 2023.

    According to a notice of proposed rule making, the FAA wants to make February 1, 2024 the new deadline for aircraft to be retrofitted.

    Non-radio altimeter tolerant airplanes can operate under part 121 subject to the revised AFM limitations until February 1, 2024, without meeting the radio altimeter performance requirements proposed in this AD. If this AD is finalized as proposed, after February 1, 2024, airplanes operating under part 121 must meet the radio altimeter tolerant requirements specified.

    The FAA is also concerned that errors — even minor ones — occurring as a result of 5G interference could lead to “desensitization” of the crew to error messages, increasing the chance of something important being missed.

    The FAA has assessed the cumulative effects of increasing numbers of erroneous warnings across the fleet of transport and commuter airplanes. Although they may seem minor in isolation such that some may consider them a mere nuisance, these warnings have safety implications over time. The erroneous warnings increase flightcrew workload as they try to ascertain the validity of the warning. Repeated determinations that the warning occurred in error will lead to flightcrew desensitization to warnings from these safety systems. In other words, as the flightcrew becomes more desensitized to erroneous warnings, they are less likely to react to an accurate warning, negating the safety benefits of the warning altogether and likely leading to a catastrophic incident.

    The FAA is clearly ready to put the whole 5G fiasco behind it, while Verizon and AT&T are eager to use the spectrum they spent billions acquiring. It appears all parties may be satisfied early next year.

  • Airline Industry Wants an Extension on 5G Mitigation Efforts

    Airline Industry Wants an Extension on 5G Mitigation Efforts

    The US airline industry wants an extension on an impending deadline, saying it has not been able to retrofit all aircraft with 5G mitigation measures.

    Wireless carriers and the FCC engaged in a high-stakes battle with the airline industry, backed by the FAA, over 5G rollout in the US. The airline industry was concerned that C-band spectrum purchased by Verizon and AT&T would interfere with aircraft altimeters. After much wrangling back and forth, the parties reached an agreement to ban the deployment of C-band 5G in the immediate vicinity of airports until the industry could retrofit impacted altimeters.

    In October we reported that the aviation industry wanted to make some elements of the 5G ban permanent, but Reuters is now reporting that some airlines can’t even meet the initial July 2023 deadline that was established and are asking for an extension.

    “It is critical to extend these mitigations through the end of 2023 to allow airlines time to complete the retrofit,” reads a the letter sent to the White House by a coalition of aviation concerns. The letter blamed supply chain issues, saying “air carriers will likely be unable to fully meet either the December 2022 deadlines for smaller regional aircraft and many large transports nor the July 2023 retrofit deadline.”

    “Our aviation coalition strongly believes that instead of once again waiting until the eleventh hour, now is the time for the leadership at federal agencies and the White House to implement a solution that allows 5G to move forward and avoid further flight delays and cancellations,” the letter added.

    The last round of wrangling did not go well with Congress, with lawmakers criticizing the fact that two government agencies were on opposite sides of such an important issue as 5G deployment. All parties are no doubt anxious to avoid a repeat of that situation.

  • Verizon and AT&T Agree to Further 5G Delays Over Aircraft Concerns

    Verizon and AT&T Agree to Further 5G Delays Over Aircraft Concerns

    Verizon and AT&T have once again agreed to delay their 5G rollout, pushing back some deployments as far as mid-2023.

    The FAA, FCC, Verizon, and AT&T have reached a new compromise over the wireless carriers’ C-band 5G spectrum. The spectrum sits relatively close to the frequencies used by aircraft altimeters, causing concerns that 5G equipment could impact the safety of flights. Under the new compromise, Verizon and AT&T will delay 5G expansion in some areas until mid-2023 to give the airline industry time to install radio frequency filters.

    The two companies, along with the FCC, FAA, and the airline industry, were involved in a very public spat over the C-band spectrum. The carriers spent a whopping $68 billion at an FCC auction to acquire the spectrum, which sits in the sweet spot for 5G in terms of speed, coverage, and building penetration. As the companies prepared to roll it out, however, the FAA and airline industry pushed back, citing safety concerns.

    See also: Here’s the 50 Airports From Verizon and AT&T’s 5G

    The issue reached a point that prompted President Biden to weigh in. In addition, Congress expressed its displeasure at seeing two government agencies at odds with one another, especially over things as critical as communications and flight safety.

    Representative Garret Graves of the Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee accused the two agencies of playing “chicken with one another – or whatever ridiculousness happened – and now we ended up threatening aviation safety. We had flights canceled. … It’s embarrassing.”

    Under the new plan, it appears the FAA and the wireless carriers were able to reach a mutual agreement without all the drama that has surrounded this issue to date.

    “We believe we have identified a path that will continue to enable aviation and 5G C-band wireless to safely co-exist,” said Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen. “We appreciate the willingness of Verizon and AT&T to continue this important and productive collaboration with the aviation industry.”

    Once the radio frequency filters are installed, by July 2023, Verizon and AT&T will be free to deploy their spectrum “in urban areas with minimal restrictions.”

  • FCC Wants Carriers to Start Working on 6G

    FCC Wants Carriers to Start Working on 6G

    Carriers may just be rolling out 5G in the US, and much of the world, but FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel wants them to start working on 6G.

    The 5G rollout in the US has been particularly rocky. Carriers were not unified in their strategy and selection of bandwidth, with only T-Mobile seeming to have a comprehensive strategy from the outset. In time, AT&T and Verizon both adopted a similar approach to T-Mobile, but both carriers ran into issues with the FAA and airline industry when trying to deploy a key portion of their spectrum. The issues even grabbed the attention of Congress, with lawmakers criticizing the agencies and industry for the botched rollout.

    It seems Rosenworcel is eager to avoid such problems in the future, and is asking carriers to start planning for the next generation of wireless technology now, according to Digital Trends.

    “It’s not too early to harmonize these efforts around the world, because that’s how we will ensure that this next generation can reach everyone everywhere,” Rosenworcel said during her MWC keynote in Barcelona.

    “Let’s not forget the lessons we’ve learned with millimeter wave spectrum and 5G,” Rosenworcel continued. “These waves are fragile. And while there’s a lot of this spectrum to deploy, it doesn’t travel very far, and right now deploying it is awfully costly.”

  • FAA: Boeing 737 Fleet Still Susceptible to 5G Interference

    FAA: Boeing 737 Fleet Still Susceptible to 5G Interference

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned the existing fleet of Boeing 737s are still susceptible to 5G interference.

    Verizon and AT&T spent billions buying C-band spectrum for their 5G networks at a recent FCC auction, only to have the FAA and airline industry raise concerns about 5G interference. Because C-band spectrum is so close to the spectrum aircraft altimeters use, there were concerns 5G could interfere with those altimeters, leading to significant dangers during flights, and especially when taking off and landing.

    Despite eventually coming to terms that allowed Verizon and AT&T to continue with their deployment, the FAA has issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD), indicating that Boeing 737s are still particularly susceptible to interference.

    This AD was prompted by a determination that radio altimeters cannot be relied upon to perform their intended function if they experience interference from wireless broadband operations in the 3.7-3.98 GHz frequency band (5G C-Band), and a recent determination that, during approach, landings, and go-arounds, as a result of this interference, certain airplane systems may not properly function, resulting in increased flightcrew workload while on approach with the flight director, autothrottle, or autopilot engaged, which could result in reduced ability of the flightcrew to maintain safe flight and landing of the airplane.

    It’s currently unclear what, if any, mitigation efforts may be taken.

  • Congress Is Not Impressed With FCC/FAA 5G Controversy

    Congress Is Not Impressed With FCC/FAA 5G Controversy

    Congress is weighing in on the botched rollout of 5G C-band spectrum — a rollout that put the FCC and FAA at odds — and they’re not impressed.

    Verizon and AT&T spent more than $68 billion to license mid-band 5G spectrum, called C-band. C-band is considered the ideal compromise between speed and coverage, and is essential to wireless carriers’ attempts to deploy the next-generation network.

    Unfortunately, the spectrum in question is dangerously close the spectrum used by aircraft altimeters, leading airlines and the FAA to object to its use. Eventually a compromise was reached, with Verizon and AT&T agreeing to exclusion zones around airports. The agreement was not reached without a number of delays, threats, negotiations, and appeals to the White House.

    Congress is now reviewing the situation and has had some tough words for the two agencies, according to NASDAQ.

    Representative Garret Graves, of the Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee, said the two agencies played “chicken with one another – or whatever ridiculousness happened – and now we ended up threatening aviation safety. We had flights canceled. … It’s embarrassing.”

    Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio said “the current interagency process for auctioning off spectrum is completely broken.”

    “Having a dropped call is way less serious than having a dropped airplane out of the sky,” DeFazio said.

  • FAA: 78% of US Commercial Aircraft Safe Amid 5G Concerns

    FAA: 78% of US Commercial Aircraft Safe Amid 5G Concerns

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has cleared roughly 78% of the US commercial aircraft fleet for low-visibility approaches near C-band 5G.

    The airline industry has been at odds with Verizon and AT&T over the rollout of C-band 5G. C-band is in the mid-band range of frequencies that are very close to those used by aircraft altimeters. The airline industry and FAA have been concerned that C-band could interfere with altimeters, putting aircraft at risk in low-visibility conditions.

    After delays and negotiations, Verizon and AT&T began rolling out their new spectrum on January 19, and the FAA has now cleared a large portion of the US aircraft fleet for low-visibility approaches.

    “The FAA issued new approvals Thursday that allow an estimated 78 percent of the U.S. commercial fleet to perform low-visibility landings at airports where wireless companies deployed 5G C-band,” the FAA’s statement reads. “This now includes some regional jets. 

    “Airplane models with one of the 13 cleared altimeters include all Boeing 717, 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, 787, MD-10/-11; all Airbus A300, A310, A319, A320, A330, A340, A350 and A380 models; and some Embraer 170 and 190 regional jets.

    “The FAA is working diligently to determine which altimeters are reliable and accurate where 5G is deployed in the United States. We anticipate some altimeters will be too susceptible to 5G interference. To preserve safety, aircraft with those altimeters will be prohibited from performing low-visibility landings where 5G is deployed because the altimeter could provide inaccurate information.”

    The FAA says altimeters that are not deemed safe will need to be retrofitted or replaced.

  • Here’s the 50 Airports Excluded From Verizon and AT&T’s 5G

    Here’s the 50 Airports Excluded From Verizon and AT&T’s 5G

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released a list of the 50 airports where Verizon and AT&T have agreed to enact 5G exclusion zones.

    After false starts and negotiations, Verizon and AT&T’s C-band 5G will finally go live on January 19. As part of their concessions addressing concerns about possible interference with aircraft altimeters, both carriers have agreed to exclusion zones around airports.

    By not deploying in the immediate vicinity of airports, it’s hoped any possible interference will be mitigated. These zones are specifically around airports where low-visibility landings occur.

    The FAA released a statement regarding the zones:

    Many airports are not currently affected by the new 5G deployment, even though they are not on this list. These include airports not in the 46 markets where the new service will be deployed and airports that do not currently have the ability to allow low-visibility landings.

    The wireless companies agreed to turn off transmitters and make other adjustments near these airports for six months to minimize potential 5G interference with sensitive aircraft instruments used in low-visibility landings.

    T-Mobile, of course, uses spectrum that poses no risks to altimeters. As a result, T-Mobile’s 5G is unaffected and the company does not need to use exclusion zones. Below is a list of the airports that will have the Verizon and AT&T exclusion zones. 

    Facility – Name

    AUS – AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTL

    BED – LAURENCE G HANSCOM FLD

    BFI – BOEING FLD/KING COUNTY INTL

    BHM – BIRMINGHAM-SHUTTLESWORTH INTL

    BNA – NASHVILLE INTL

    BUR – BOB HOPE

    CAK – AKRON-CANTON

    CLT – CHARLOTTE/DOUGLAS INTL

    DAL – DALLAS LOVE FLD

    DFW – DALLAS-FORT WORTH INTL

    DTW – DETROIT METRO WAYNE COUNTY

    EFD – ELLINGTON

    EWR – NEWARK LIBERTY INTL

    FAT – FRESNO YOSEMITE INTL

    FLL – FORT LAUDERDALE/HOLLYWOOD INTL

    FNT – FLINT MICHIGAN

    HOU – WILLIAM P HOBBY

    HVN – NEW HAVEN

    IAH – GEORGE BUSH INTCNTL/HOUSTON

    IND – INDIANAPOLIS INTL

    ISP – LONG ISLAND MAC ARTHUR

    JFK – JOHN F KENNEDY INTL

    LAS – HARRY REID INTL

    LAX – LOS ANGELES INTL

    LGA – LAGUARDIA

    LGB – LONG BEACH (DAUGHERTY FLD)

    MCI – KANSAS CITY INTL

    MCO – ORLANDO INTL

    MDT – HARRISBURG INTL

    MDW – CHICAGO MIDWAY INTL

    MFE – MCALLEN INTL

    MIA – MIAMI INTL

    MSP – MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL INTL/WOLD-CHAMBERLAIN

    ONT – ONTARIO INTL

    ORD – CHICAGO O’HARE INTL

    PAE – SNOHOMISH COUNTY (PAINE FLD)

    PBI – PALM BEACH INTL

    PHL – PHILADELPHIA INTL

    PHX – PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTL

    PIE – ST PETE-CLEARWATER INTL

    PIT – PITTSBURGH INTL

    RDU – RALEIGH-DURHAM INTL

    ROC – FREDERICK DOUGLASS/GREATER ROCHESTER INTL

    SEA – SEATTLE-TACOMA INTL

    SFO – SAN FRANCISCO INTL

    SJC – NORMAN Y MINETA SAN JOSE INTL

    SNA – JOHN WAYNE/ORANGE COUNTY

    STL – ST LOUIS LAMBERT INTL

    SYR – SYRACUSE HANCOCK INTL

    TEB – TETERBORO

  • FAA Will Not Seek Further 5G Rollout Delays From Verizon and AT&T

    FAA Will Not Seek Further 5G Rollout Delays From Verizon and AT&T

    The Federal Aviation Administration has said it will not seek any more delays from Verizon and AT&T in regard to their 5G rollout.

    Verizon and AT&T have twice delayed their rollout of C-band spectrum, from December 5 to January 5, and now from January 5 to January 19. As we have covered extensively, the delays were sparked by concerns that C-band spectrum could interfere with aircraft altimeters.

    Verizon made it clear it was planning on proceeding with deployment after this last delay, even issuing a press release promising customers they would have access to the faster 5G later this month.

    “This massive launch will put incredible speeds, reliability and security in the hands of our customers and amplifies our offering of reliable home and business broadband options to more places around the country, well ahead of the commitment we made last year,” said Hans Vestberg, Chairman and CEO of Verizon. “As 5G Ultra Wideband becomes available to more and more people and businesses, it will allow our customers to do more amazing things.”

    In a letter to the carriers, US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, signaled there would be no further requests for a delay.

    Thank you for your willingness to work with the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration to reduce the impact of 5G C-Band deployment on the national airspace.

    Your voluntary agreement both to delay initial deployment by two weeks, and to subsequently adopt some additional mitigations, will give us additional time and space to reduce the impacts to commercial flights. We look forward to working with you to implement the steps in the attached term sheet. We understand you will work with the Federal Communications Commission to further memorialize the additional mitigations you are putting in place.

    Thank you again for taking this meaningful step. We are confident that your voluntary steps will support the safe coexistence of 5G C-Band deployment and aviation activities, helping to retain America’s economic strength and leadership role around the world.

    This appears to end a long, drawn-out saga for Verizon and AT&T, as well as the airline industry.

  • Verizon and AT&T Agree to New 5G Delay, President Biden Weighs In

    Verizon and AT&T Agree to New 5G Delay, President Biden Weighs In

    Verizon and AT&T have backed down from their previous stance, agreeing to a new two-week delay for their C-band 5G rollout.

    As we have previously written about extensively, Verizon and AT&T have been at odds with the airline industry over their C-band 5G. The airline industry and the FAA are concerned about possible interference with aircraft altimeters, but the two carriers are eager to use spectrum they spent $68 billion to acquire.

    In the last chapter of this saga, both companies refused to delay any further past their January 5 deployment date, which was already a month delay from their initial plans. In response, the aviation industry appealed to the White House.

    According to CNET, both wireless carriers have now agreed to a new two-week delay, potentially avoiding a long and costly legal battle.

    “We’ve agreed to a two-week delay which promises the certainty of bringing this nation our game-changing 5G network in January delivered over America’s best and most reliable network,” Verizon spokesperson Rich Young said in a statement emailed to CNET.

    President Joe Biden voiced his support for the agreement, while also reiterating his administrations commitment to advancing 5G in the US.

    My Administration is committed to rapid 5G deployment, while minimizing disruptions to air operations and continuing to maintain the world’s safest airspace. Last night’s agreement is a significant step in the right direction, and we’re grateful to all parties for their cooperation and good faith. This agreement ensures that there will be no disruptions to air operations over the next two weeks and puts us on track to substantially reduce disruptions to air operations when AT&T and Verizon launch 5G on January 19th.

  • Aviation Industry Appeals to White House Over 5G Concerns

    Aviation Industry Appeals to White House Over 5G Concerns

    The Aerospace Industries Association has appealed to the White House to intervene over concerns about the safety risks of 5G deployment.

    Airlines, the FAA, the FCC, Verizon, and AT&T have been in a tug-of-war over the future of mid-band 5G deployment. Verizon and AT&T are desperate to begin rolling out the $68 billion of spectrum they acquired at a recent FCC auction, but the airline industry and the FCC are worried about possible interference with airline altimeters. 

    After Verizon and AT&T rebuffed requests to delay their deployment further — past the January 5 date they had set — the industry is now appealing to the White House, according to Bloomberg.

    “We respectfully call on President Biden to intervene and delay the full implementation of C-band 5G until proper risk assessments have taken place and crewmembers are fully briefed as to the extent of the disruptions,” the group said in a statement.

    There has been no response yet from the White House.

    One thing is clear: T-Mobile is increasingly coming out an even bigger winner in the 5G wars than it already was. The company acquired a wealth of mid-band spectrum when it bought Sprint. T-Mobile’s nearly insurmountable lead in 5G was one of the main reasons its two biggest competitors spent so much money at auction. Unlike the spectrum they acquired, however, T-Mobile’s spectrum is far enough away from altimeter frequencies that it poses no risk.

  • No More Delays: Verizon and AT&T Reject US Request to Delay 5G

    No More Delays: Verizon and AT&T Reject US Request to Delay 5G

    Verizon and AT&T’s CEOs have rejected a request from the FAA and US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to delay mid-band 5G.

    Verizon and AT&T have been at odds with the airline industry over the C-band spectrum the companies plan to use for 5G. The two companies spent over $68 billion on the spectrum at a recent FCC auction, since C-band is squarely in the mid-band range, making it ideal for 5G. 

    Unfortunately, the spectrum is very close to the frequencies used by airline altimeters, sparking concerns by the airline industry and the FAA. Secretary Buttigieg had asked the two carriers to delay rollout for no more than two weeks past their January 5 deployment date, already a month later than the two companies originally planned.

    It seems neither company is willing to comply, with Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg and AT&T CEO John Stankey penning a joint letter saying they will not delay deployment any longer. According to CNBC, the two companies are willing to delay deployment around airports for another six months, but they will not delay general deployment.

    The two companies plan to follow an “exclusion zone” plan, similar to what companies in France are doing. Adjustments would be made to account for the stronger 5G signals used in the US versus France, but the goal would be to limit potential interference in the proximity of airports and helipads.

    “The laws of physics are the same in the United States and France,” the CEOs wrote. “If U.S. airlines are permitted to operate flights every day in France, then the same operating conditions should allow them to do so in the United States.”

  • Airlines File Emergency FCC Request to Block 5G Near Airports

    Airlines File Emergency FCC Request to Block 5G Near Airports

    The Airlines for America (A4A) association representing US airlines has filed an emergency request with the FCC to block 5G rollouts near airports.

    Wireless carriers and the FCC are at odds with airlines and the FAA over the rollout of C-band 5G. Verizon and AT&T spent more than $68 billion at an FCC auction to purchase the mid-band spectrum, considered the sweet spot for 5G. Unfortunately, the spectrum is so close to the frequencies used for airline altimeters that the airline industry has been worried the C-band rollout could interfere.

    The two carriers initially delayed the rollout of their C-band spectrum, and then agreed to limit the strength of the signal in an effort to address concerns. Meanwhile, the FAA issued new guidance for the use of altimeters in low-visibility conditions, and the airlines have continued to raise the alarm.

    The A4A’s emergency filing is once again asking the FCC to force the carriers to delay rollout.

    “Although the wireless carriers postponed the inauguration of service from December 5, 2021, to January 5, 2022, there has still not been a resolution of this issue,” reads the request. “The FAA – the federal agency principally responsible for aviation safety – has now issued an Airworthiness Directive that concluded that an unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop in transport and commuter category airplane because of the interference impact of new 3.7 GHz license service on radio altimeters. Aircraft will not be able to rely on radio altimeters for numerous flight procedures and thus will not be able to land at certain airports.”

    The A4A believes irreparable harm will come to the industry if the delay is not granted.

    “Absent the grant of a stay, the airline industry will suffer irreparable harm,” the filing continues. “In addition, the traveling public and the American economy, which depends on the air transportation system, will incur significant financial losses amounting to billions of dollars. Moreover, this does not include the downstream effects that the disruption in commercial air service will have on customers and the U.S. economy as a whole that is still recovering from supply chain disruptions as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

    It appears the issues surrounding C-band spectrum are far from over.

  • United Airlines CEO: 5G Rollout ‘Would Be Catastrophic’

    United Airlines CEO: 5G Rollout ‘Would Be Catastrophic’

    United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is warning that Verizon and AT&T’s 5G rollout would be catastrophic for the airline industry.

    Verizon and AT&T spent over $68 billion on C-band spectrum for their 5G networks. C-band spectrum is squarely in the mid-band range, making it ideal for 5G. Unfortunately, the spectrum is very close to the same frequencies airline altimeters use. Although T-Mobile spent $9 billion, it was largely to fill out its existing spectrum, spectrum that poses no danger to the airline industry. Verizon and AT&T, in contrast, delayed their rollout of the new spectrum before agreeing to throttle back the power in an effort to avoid issues.

    Unfortunately, Kirby doesn’t think that will be enough. According to The Independent, Kirby warned Congress in a US Senate Commerce Committee meeting, that the C-band rollout “would be a catastrophic failure of government.”

    Not everyone agrees Kirby’s fears are warranted, with the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CITA) saying concerns about interference amount to fear-mongering.

    “The aviation industry’s fear-mongering relies on completely discredited information and deliberate distortions of fact,” says CTIA.

    At the same time, Kirby was quick to point out the consequences of the FAA’s new directive aimed at addressing the 5G issue, in which the agency prohibits the use of altimeters in low-visibility conditions.

    “Unless something changes – we will not be able to use radio altimeters at 40-something of the largest airports in the country,” Mr Kirby said. “It is a certainty. This is not a debate.”

    The debate between 5G and the airline safety looks to be far from over, but one thing is clear: Until the issue is resolved, airline passengers will likely experience more delays as the industry accommodates the FAA’s new directive.

  • 5G May Still Interfere With Aircraft in Low Visibility Conditions

    5G May Still Interfere With Aircraft in Low Visibility Conditions

    Despite a deal being reached between Verizon, AT&T and the FAA, the carriers’ 5G may still cause problems with aircraft in low-visibility conditions.

    Verizon and AT&T spent billions purchasing mid-band spectrum for their 5G rollouts, only to have the FAA raise concerns about the spectrum interfering with aircraft altimeters. The issue stems from the spectrum being in the 3.7 to 3.98 GHz range, considered a sweet spot for 5G, but relatively close to the spectrum altimeters use in the 4.2 to 4.4 GHz range.

    Verizon and AT&T came to an agreement with the FAA to limit the power of their 5G signals, but the FAA is warning pilots that may not be enough. In a statement on 5G, in which the FAA declares its belief that 5G and aviation can safely coexist, the agency does provide a warning about possible interference.

    The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all transport and commuter category airplanes equipped with a radio (also known as radar) altimeter. This AD was prompted by a determination that radio altimeters cannot be relied upon to perform their intended function if they experience interference from wireless broadband operations in the 3.7-3.98 GHz frequency band (5G C-Band).

    The interference will especially be a concern in low visibility situations.

    This AD requires revising the limitations section of the existing AFM to incorporate limitations prohibiting certain operations requiring radio altimeter data when in the presence of 5G C-Band wireless broadband signals as identified by NOTAM. These limitations could prevent dispatch of flights to certain locations with low visibility, and could also result in flight diversions.

    The only carrier unaffected by the FAA’s concerns is T-Mobile. The magenta carrier’s mid-band 5G spectrum falls in the 2.5 GHz range, a range that is no threat to altimeters.

  • Air Traffic Concerns Delay Verizon and AT&T 5G, T-Mobile Unaffected

    Air Traffic Concerns Delay Verizon and AT&T 5G, T-Mobile Unaffected

    Concerns over possible interference between mid-band 5G and aviation altimeters has caused Verizon and AT&T to delay their 5G deployment.

    Verizon and AT&T recently spent billions to acquire mid-band spectrum, specifically the C-Band, in the 3.7 to 3.98 GHz range. The spectrum is considered the sweet spot for 5G, offering a combination of speed, range and building penetration. Unfortunately, radar altimeters run in the 4.2-4.4 GHz range, making them dangerously close to the C-Band spectrum.

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has voiced concern over whether a nearby cell tower could negatively impact altimeters, potentially causing major safety issues for the airline industry.

    As a result of the concerns, both Verizon and AT&T have pushed back deployment of their C-Band spectrum by a month, to allow time to address the concerns.

    The big winner in the entire situation is T-Mobile. While the second-largest carrier bought some C-Band spectrum at the latest auction, the bulk of its 5G spectrum is in the 2.5 GHz range, far enough for there to be no concerns about interfering with altimeters.

    Some experts are already predicting the month-long delay on the part of Verizon and AT&T will only serve to help T-Mobile grow its 5G lead even more.

  • Virgin Galactic Grounding While FAA Investigates

    Virgin Galactic Grounding While FAA Investigates

    Richard Branson made headlines when he flew to the edge of space, but Virgin Galactic is now grounded over a flight path deviation.

    Virgin Galactic’s ship veered off course during its return to earth, being outside the designated airspace for one minute and 41 seconds. According to The Seattle Times, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently investigating, and Virgin Galactic is grounded while the investigation takes place.

    “Virgin Galactic may not return the SpaceShipTwo vehicle to flight until the FAA approves the final mishap investigation report or determines the issues related to the mishap do not affect public safety,” the FAA said in a statement.

    Despite the issue, the company says Branson and the other crew members were never in any danger, and that the ship’s pilots “responded appropriately” when high-altitude winds knocked the ship off course.

    “At no time were passengers and crew put in any danger as a result of this change in trajectory,” said.

  • Kroger and Drone Express Testing Autonomous Drone Grocery Deliveries

    Kroger and Drone Express Testing Autonomous Drone Grocery Deliveries

    Kroger is working with Drone Express, a division of TELEGRID Technologies, to test autonomous drones for grocery deliveries.

    Multiple companies are working to deploy drones, with plans to use them for autonomous deliveries. Late last year, the Federal Aviation Administration cleared unmanned drones for night flights and flights over people, a critical next step in widespread adoption.

    Kroger is now the next major company looking to deploy autonomous drones for deliveries, and is turning to Drone Express to help it. Kroger will test its pilot program around the Kroger Marketplace in Centerville, Ohio.

    “Kroger’s new drone delivery pilot is part of the evolution of our rapidly growing and innovative e-commerce business – which includes pickup, delivery, and ship and reached more than $10 billion in sales in 2020,” said Kroger’s Jody Kalmbach, group vice president of product experience. “The pilot reinforces the importance of flexibility and immediacy to customers, powered by modern, cost-effective, and efficient last-mile solutions. We’re excited to test drone delivery and gain insights that will inform expansion plans as well as future customer solutions.”

    “Autonomous drones have unlimited potential to improve everyday life, and our technology opens the way to safe, secure, environmentally friendly deliveries for Kroger customers,” said Beth Flippo, Chief Technology Officer, TELEGRID. “The possibilities for customers are endless – we can enable Kroger customers to send chicken soup to a sick friend or get fast delivery of olive oil if they run out while cooking dinner.”

  • Google Looking to Use Drones to Fight Wildfires

    Google Looking to Use Drones to Fight Wildfires

    Google is looking to use drones in an innovative way, with plans to fight wildfires with them.

    Drones are one of the fastest-growing industries, being used for deliveries, surveillance, real estate, recreation and more. Google may be on the verge of using them for one of the most unique, and arguably important, role yet.

    According to a Federal Register (PDF) notice Google is seeking permission from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to test drones for fire-fighting.

    Google Research Climate and Energy Group (Google Research) seeks relief to operate the HSE-UAV M8A Pro unmanned aircraft system, weighing over 55 pounds (lbs.) but no more than 98.8 lbs., for testing fire-fighting and monitoring operations with first person view technology located at a confined private property in Firebaugh, California.

    Should the FAA give Google permission to proceed, drones could become an important element in the growing fight against yearly wildfires. Drones could be especially helpful in monitoring vulnerable forests and serving as an early warning system for a fraction of the cost involved in using planes or helicopters.

  • American Robotics First Company Approved For Automated Drone Flights

    American Robotics First Company Approved For Automated Drone Flights

    American Robotics has become the first company authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fly automated drones.

    The drone industry is exploding, with companies large and small looking to the craft for retail delivery, agriculture, security, inspections, search and rescue, surveying and more. A big milestone toward the growth of the industry, however, is approval for automated flights, without on-site human operators.

    American Robotics is now the first company to receive that authorization. The company specializes in developing fully autonomous drones, featuring the company’s Scout System, with advanced acoustic Detect-and-Avoid (DAA) technology. As a result, the company’s drones maintain a safe distance from other aircraft.

    “With these approvals, American Robotics is ushering in a new era of widespread automated drone operations,” said Reese Mozer, CEO and co-founder of American Robotics. “Decades worth of promise and projection are finally coming to fruition. We are proud to be the first company to meet the FAA’s comprehensive safety requirements, which had previously restricted the viability of drone use in the commercial sector. We are very grateful for the FAA’s willingness to work closely with American Robotics over the past four years on this precedent-setting authorization. With this set of approvals, American Robotics can begin safely operating our automated Scout platform for the benefit of the energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and security market verticals, helping unlock the projected $100 billion commercial drone market.”

    During the testing period, the company’s drones showed the impact they could have on both industry and agriculture.

    “Our interest in American Robotics’ technology started with the desire to have a drone imagery solution that was reliable, scalable, and executed with minimal human resources,” said Lance Ruppert, Director of Agronomy Marketing and Technology at Growmark, Inc., a leading U.S. grower cooperative. “This technology, along with the FAA approvals to operate it without humans on the ground, is key to making drones a widespread reality in our industry. This is a game changer.”

    American Robotics’ approval is good news for the drone industry and is sure to be just the first of many.