FifthSeveral airlines – such as Emirates Airlines, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan Airlines and Air India – have decided to suspend some flights to the United States of America (USA). At stake is the start of 5G services from Verizon and AT&T, planned for Thursday, 19th.
The decision comes after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last week published guidance that said engine, braking systems and navigation tools can be blocked by 5G frequencies in a landing mode. In the directive, the FAA required crews to be “aware of these risks” and to adopt specific safety procedures when landing “on certain runways.”
In the face of the flight suspension, AT&T announced that it will delay the activation of the service “in the vicinity of some airports”. Verizon has also taken a similar decision and will postpone the activation of some towers near the country’s most important airports.
In a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Executive Director of the Federal Aviation Administration, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission and Director of the National Economic Council, which the BBC was able to reach, ten of the largest US carriers warned that the activation of the 5G service would cause “a great deal of damage.” There will be significant interference” in flights, which will lead to a “completely avoidable economic catastrophe.”
They stressed that “immediate intervention is necessary to avoid major operational disruptions to flight passengers, carriers, the chain of essential commodities and essential medical supplies,” including the distribution of vaccines.
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