Government safety officials direct pilots of some Boeing airlines to apply additional procedures when arriving on wet or snowy airports near an upcoming 5G service because, they say, disruption of wireless networks could mean that planes need more space.
The Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday that the disruption could delay systems such as throwing the Boeing 787s into a kick, leaving only the brakes delaying the flight. That "could prevent the plane from landing on the runway," the FAA said.
Similar orders may be issued in the coming days on other airlines. The FAA has asked Boeing and Airbus for information on multiple models. Boeing said it is working with its suppliers, airlines, telecommunications companies and regulators to "ensure that every commercial aircraft model can operate safely and confidently when launching 5G in the United States."
The Boeing jet order comes a day after the FAA began restricting flights and other pilots to deal with a number of airports when AT&T and Verizon unveiled a new, faster 5G wireless service on Wednesday.
The center is still researching whether those wireless networks will affect altimeters, measuring the length of the plane above the ground. Data from altimeters is used to help pilots stay where they appear to be.
The devices operate in the radio section near the distance used by the new 5G service, called the C-Band.
This week’s FAA actions are part of a larger battle between the airline regulator and the telecommunications industry. Telecommunications companies and the Federal Communications Commission say 5G networks do not pose a threat to the aircraft. The FAA says more research is needed.
The FAA conducted tests to determine how many commercial aircraft with altimeters could be at risk of spectrum interference. The agency said this week it expected to estimate a percentage of those flights soon, but did not set a date for it.
"Aircraft with unmodified altimeters or in need of refurbishment or replacement will not be able to create low visibility in 5G deployment," the statement said in a statement.
The order regarding the Boeing 787s includes 137 aircraft in the US and 1,010 worldwide. The 787 is a popular two-dimensional aircraft on long routes, including many international airlines.
The FAA said that based on information from Boeing, the 787s may not be able to properly change from aircraft to stand-in mode in the event of a disruption, which could delay the operation of systems that help delay the flight.
AT&T and Verizon have twice agreed to postpone the use of their new networks due to concerns raised by airline and FAA, shortly after FAA Secretary and Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg took part in the aviation industry. Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson warned that flights could be canceled or diverted to avoid potential safety hazards.
Under an agreement with telecommunications companies, the FAA has designated 50 airports that will have secure locations where companies will turn off 5G transmitters or make other changes to curb potential disruptions in early July.
50 include three major airports in New York City area - LaGuardia, JFK and Newark Liberty - O'Hare and Midway in Chicago, Dallas / Fort Worth International, Bush Intercontinental in Houston, Los Angeles International and San Francisco.
That telecoms deal was imitated after the French route, although the FAA said last week France needed a dramatic reduction in access to the cell tower around the airports.