On 1/18/22 1:25 PM, Mel Beckman wrote:
Michael,
Here’s a recent PCmag editorial on the subject, and it seems like many
people want to put Internet speed above airline safety:
https://www.pcmag.com/news/faa-goes-in-hard-to-kill-mid-band-5g
<https://www.pcmag.com/news/faa-goes-in-hard-to-kill-mid-band-5g?utm_source=spotim&utm_medium=E-mail&utm_content=replied-your-message&spot_im_redirect_source=email&spot_im_highlight_immediate=true&spot_im_reply_id=sp_K16VHJZS_072HRXmNRXaBpGnEYhzHF9p_c_226CAR9Wh7cKB5nT7ZEk9jsnt4P_r_23YHCX47igC6D698mkyoaTHv1ke&spot_im_content_id=sp_K16VHJZS_072HRXmNRXaBpGnEYhzHF9p&spot_im_content_type=conversation&utm_spot=sp_K16VHJZS>
This issue definitely impacts network operations for 5G providers, so
makes sense to discuss here.
Here’s a comment from a friend of mine who has been both a network
engineer and a pilot for United Airlines, posted on the article linked
above:
/“As a pilot, I can tell you that landing in instrument conditions is
by far the most critical flight regime possible, during which the
radar altimeter reports are a matter of life and death. There is no
alternative technology, such as GPS, with the required accuracy and
reliability, to provide approach guidance down to the runway in
zero-zero weather, which is what the radar altimeter does. /
/
/
/The collective tech industry needs to admit that it made a huge
blunder when it urged the FCC’s clueless Ajit Pai to “blow off” the
clearly demonstrated FAA spectrum conflict. Sorry, passengers, but if
you look out your window, you’ll see that aviation owns this spectrum
and is entitled to interference-free operation. Replacing all radar
altimeters isn’t going to happen in time for 5G anyway — it took more
than ten years just to deploy anti-collision technology. So do what
you should have done from the beginning: follow the FCC rules of
non-interference to existing users, who have clear priority in this
case.”/
I tend to agree with him, and it looks like the 5G providers and FAA
agreed last week to put some buffer safety zones around runway
approaches at 50 major airports:
Is this the band that has really really short range for 5G? If so, it
doesn't seem like a very big deal to give them the airspace on
approaches. I mean, if you live under a flight path by the airport, not
getting fast 5G is hardly your biggest problem.
Mike
