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Washington– On Wednesday, executives from the nation’s leading airlines requested “urgent action” from the Biden administration in the planned rollout of 5G technology near key airports, warning of grave transportation and economic ramifications.
In a letter released, representatives of ten carriers requested the government to further postpone the deployment near airports where Federal Aviation Administration flying limitations will take effect once the technology is activated. The aviation industry is afraid that 5G signals would interfere with aviation technology, such as radar altimeters onboard flights.
“The ripple effects throughout both passenger and freight operations, our workforce, and the greater economy are just unimaginable,” added the CEOs. “To put it frankly, the nation’s trade will come to a halt.”
“Unless our key hubs are cleared to fly, the great majority of travelers and shippers will be effectively grounded. This implies that on a typical day, more than 1,100 flights and 100,000 passengers would be canceled, diverted, or delayed.”
The letter was sent to the White House, the Transportation Department, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Federal Aviation Administration. Members of Airlines for America signed the letter, as did officials from Alaska Airlines, American Airlines (AAL), Atlas Air (AAWW), Delta Air Lines (DAL), Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways (JBLU), Southwest Airlines (LUV), United Airlines, and FedEx (FDX) and UPS (UPS).
United Airlines issued a statement on Monday evening warning of a “devastating impact on aviation” if 5G is deployed near airports.
“When deployed next to runways, 5G signals may interfere with the key safety devices that pilots rely on to take off and land in inclement weather,” United said in a quote, warning that safety concerns could lead to “significant restrictions” on aircraft’s ability to operate at airports such as Houston, Newark, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago.
In a statement issued Monday evening, the FAA stated that it “will continue to safeguard the traveling public’s safety as cellular providers install 5G.”
“The FAA continues to collaborate with the aviation sector and cellular businesses to reduce 5G-related flight delays and cancellations,” it stated.
