Boeing, Airbus say deployment of new 5G wireless services could harm aviation safety, urge delay in rollout

The CEOs of Boeing and Airbus Americas are reportedly calling on the Biden administration to delay the rollout of new 5G wireless services, saying that the signal could harm aviation safety.

Boeing’s Dave Calhoun and Jeffrey Knittel from Airbus asked Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to support a pause in AT&T and Verizon’s deployment of C-Band spectrum 5G wireless, which is set to launch on Jan. 5, according to Reuters.

The executives stated in a letter that “5G interference could adversely affect the ability of aircraft to safely operate,” adding that the signal could have “an enormous negative impact on the aviation industry,” the news service reported.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and industry officials have previously raised concerns that 5G could affect aircraft electronics like radio altimeters, which are sensitive to the signal, Reuters noted. Earlier this month, the FAA warned that 5G could cause flight diversions. 

Calhoun and Knittel cited an analysis from the trade group Airlines for America in their letter to Buttigieg that found around 5,400 cargo flights and 345,000 passenger flights could have faced delays, cancellations or diversions had the FAA warning been in effect in 2019, Reuters reported.

Wireless industry group CTIA has pushed back on claims from the FAA, however, saying that 5G is safe. It also accused the industry of distorting facts, Reuters noted.

The Air Line Pilots Association on Monday told Reuters that communications and aviation regulators have reached a stalemate on the issue.

“That’s a big problem for passengers, shippers and the American economy,” the group said.

The Hill has reached out to Buttigieg’s office for comment.