Airline Industry Slams FAA Proposal on Making Aircraft C-Band Safe

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned that retrofitting radio altimeters (RAs) on commercial aircraft to ensure they're safe from 5G wireless interference may cost airlines at least $637 million. The FAA earlier estimated the cost upgrades at just $26 million nationwide (see 2301100060). Comments were posted this week and last in docket FAA-2022-1647-0001. The FAA proposed in January that passenger and cargo aircraft in the U.S. have 5G C-band-tolerant radio altimeters or install approved filters by early 2024. “It is unfortunate” the FCC and carriers “refused to accept that any limitations on the 5G spectrum signal around airports were necessary to ensure the continued safe operation of commercial aviation,” IATA said: “This is despite the fact that IATA and other industry representatives raised these safety and interference concerns long before the auction of this spectrum. Now, the aviation industry, rather than the FCC or the telecommunications companies, is being told to pay to upgrade its certified radio altimeters. The unfairness of this cannot be overstated.” Carriers didn't file comments in the proceeding. “The wireless industry continues to work collaboratively with all stakeholders and supports the FAA’s schedule for altimeter upgrades," a CTIA spokesperson emailed. Others questioned timing. The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAW) said the FAA must work with other federal agencies, along with the aviation and telecom industries, “to develop a permanent solution that does not rely upon voluntary mitigation measures from telecommunications providers.” AAAW questioned whether the proposed timeline is workable: “While airports are not in the best position to determine the appropriate timeline for retrofitting existing airplanes, comments from air carriers and manufacturers in response to the proposal and over the past several months are clear: the proposed deadlines are unachievable, and FAA needs to extend them to prevent disruptions to the air transportation system.” The Cargo Airline Association said modifying altimeters “is not a quick process,” the group said: “The time it takes to go from the RA/filter modification development all the way to the end-state of equipage on aircraft is multi-layered and an incredibly complex process. The multitude of paperwork approvals and the complexity of the logistics channels have been further hampered by significant supply chain challenges and lack of available parts.”