WHY US BOUND FLIGHTS CANCELLING THEIR BOARDINGS ?
(The Quiver) : Air India earlier cancelled more than eight flights to the USA on January 19, 2022. These decisions of forceful flight cancellation taken up by Air India due to the amid 5G rollout by the US. Air India informed about the flight cancellations by using its official twitter handle.
Why 5G wireless network installation by US is not safe for flights?
Tata owned Air India, was unable to operate a number of US-bound flights as 5G wireless network triggered risk of safety aviation concerns. According to the statement of US aviation regulator Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Telecom companies Verizon and AT&T use the C-band spectrum for their 5G network which higher the risk level of interference with aircraft’s radio altimeters which are responsible for helping to measure a plane’s height above ground, and impede landings in low-visibility conditions.
How the Federation of Indian Pilots responded to the cause?
Recently, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), with a strength of 6,000 pilots, has expressed concern over possible interference of 5G wireless signals with sensitive aircraft equipment such as radio altitude meters, threatening aviation safety.
“It is important to fully understand and reduce potential 5G signal interference with radio altimeters that are integral to aircraft security systems. We understand that the activation of these services is a part of India’s select Coming soon in cities,” stated the January 4 FIP letter.
Further FIP mentioned in the letter that if 5G deploys pilots may face safety issues while operating flights. “5G signals could interfere with the Radio Altimeters that airliners, bizjets and general aviation aircraft rely on low altitude flight that it issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) on the ‘Risk of Potential Adverse Effects on Radio Altimeters’ of 5G deployment. In response, the largest network carriers in the US, including Verizon and AT&T agreed to temporarily pause the advent of 5G service to allow the FAA more time to address concerns about interference,” the FIP letter reads.
At present Air India informed to continue operating its flights between Delhi and New York and Delhi and Washington. Air India quoted that ‘Boeing’ (is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners, defense, space and security systems, and service provider) has given green signal for flying.
“Boeing has cleared Air India to operate in the USA on B777. Accordingly, the first flight has left this morning to John F Kennedy. Other flights leaving in the day are to Chicago and San Francisco. Arrangements to carry stranded passengers are being worked out. Matter regarding B777 flying into the USA has been sorted,”.
How US telecom service providers AT&T and Verizon solved this issue?
US telecom service providers AT&T and Verizon had announced that they would pause the 5G roll-out around key airports until the issue was fixed.
US is not the first country to rollout 5G services and similar mobile networks have been deployed in more than three dozen countries. However, the US networks are designed in a certain way that raised concern of potential problems for airlines.
FAA has assured it is working on the problem and soon it will be solved inspite of FAA assurance many airlines in worldwide are not confident enough to board their flights at such a great risk. Airlines from worldwide raised the concern over aviation safety.
How many airlines cancelled their flights to US in worldwide?
Due to this airlines like Emirates, Japan Airlines, Air India and All Nippon Airways have cancelled most flights to the United States amid concerns over the deployment of new 5G wireless networks. Singapore Airlines has already changed the type of aircraft for the US on Wednesday.
