Airbus and Boeing express 5G interference concerns

Bosses of two of the world’s biggest aircraft makers are warning against the rollout of 5G technology

The bosses of Airbus and Boeing – the world’s biggest plane makers – are calling on the Biden administration to delay the rollout of 5G telco services.

The executives fear that C-Band spectrum 5G wireless could interfere with aircraft electronics.

In a letter, top executives at Boeing and Airbus warned that the technology could have “an enormous negative impact on the aviation industry.”

US telco giants AT&T and Verizon are due to deploy 5G services on 5 January

“5G interference could adversely affect the ability of aircraft to safely operate,” said the bosses of Boeing and Airbus Americas, Dave Calhoun and Jeffrey Knittel, in a joint letter to US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

The letter cited research by trade group Airlines for America which found that if the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) 5G rules had been in effect in 2019, about 345,000 passenger flights and 5,400 cargo flights would have faced delays, diversions or cancellations.

The aviation industry and the FAA have raised concerns about potential interference of 5G with sensitive aircraft equipment like radio altitude meters.

This month, the FAA issued airworthiness directives warning 5G interference could result in flight diversions, stating that it would provide more information before the 5 January rollout date.