WASHINGTON – Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA), the trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada, today wrote to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requesting a delay in 5G implementation to avoid widespread disruption across the U.S air transportation system.

“As a result of the Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued last night, more than 100 airports and heliports within 46 of the largest metropolitan areas of the country will have their low visibility approach procedures closed due to potential radio frequency interference between 5G transmissions and radar altimeters,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke in a letter to FAA Administrator Steve Dickson and FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “The airports affected include many of the largest and busiest commercial service airports in the United States, including airports in Boston, New York, Orlando, Dallas Fort Worth, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles just to name a few. More alarmingly, multiple Level I and II trauma hospitals will also see their low visibility approach procedures shuttered.”

“Despite promises from an eleventh-hour ‘deal’ made between the FAA and telecommunications companies, we still find ourselves facing the loss of this capability at hundreds of U.S. airports without any clear indication when it will be restored,” Burke said.  “As such, ACI-NA is calling on the FAA and the FCC to work with telecommunications companies and all aviation stakeholders to take the time necessary to expand 5G access without disrupting air travel for passengers, businesses and local communities across the United States.”

Read ACI-NA’s full letter to the FAA and FCC here.

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