What do you think about this airline vs 5G brouhaha?

Tue Jan 18 21:34:00 UTC 2022

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
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