ADVOCATING FOR YOU By Cade Clark, John Shea, and Emma Taylor
Government Affairs team, is now the co-chair of the Technical Operations subgroup of the coali- tion, which is working to develop actionable mitigations to radar altimeter interference.
1526 1536 1545
Ligado Downlink
1555 1559
Ligado Downlink
GNSS/GPS 1610 1627.5 1637.5
Ligado Uplink
1646.5 1656.5
Ligado Uplink
Electromagnetic Spectrum
radio 10 m
10 cm
microwave (sub) mm infrared 1 mm
0.3 mm visible 780 nm 380 nm ultraviolet 10 nm x-ray 0.01 nm gamma-ray 0.000001 nm 107 109 1011 1012 1014 1015 1016 1019 1020 1027
Ligado Networks Signals Will Interfere with GPS. The FCC approved Ligado Networks’ request to operate in portions of the spectrum adjacent to that used by the US global navigation satellite system (GNSS), known as the Global Positioning System (GPS). Independent testing shows that the much-stronger Ligado signal will cause interference with the GPS signal. False, delayed, or missing GPS data could lead to helicopter accidents.
industry has consistently noted during the FCC rulemaking process that deployment of 5G networks in the C band may interfere with radar altimeters. In April 2020, the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) formed a 5G task force to conduct a quanti- tative evaluation of radar altimeter perfor- mance regarding interference, as well as a detailed assessment of the risk of such interference occurring and impacting safety. This study used technical informa- tion supplied by the mobile wireless indus- try and radar altimeter manufacturers. In a subsequent, October 2020 report,
RTCA indicated that 5G networks operating in the C band pose a major risk for
12 ROTOR JUNE 2021
interference with radar altimeters on all types of civil aircraft. HAI, along with a large coalition of aviation organizations, petitioned the FCC to suspend allocation of C band spectrum to wireless companies, but this petition was denied. The deployment of the 5G networks is
expected to occur in December 2021. Without a reversal by the FCC, the aviation industry will bear the brunt of identifying— and paying for—the near- and long-term technical and operational solutions. Helicopters are the category of aircraft
most affected by 5G interference, and HAI is hard at work developing solutions and a path forward to blunt the effects of interfer- ence. John Shea, director of the
What You Can Do As Congress gets more involved in the implications of FCC mis- management of the spectrum, there is an important role you can play in advocating for our industry. This August, Congress will take its traditional month off for recess. Lawmakers will head home to visit with constituents—like you— and learn about issues important to those who voted them in. The FCC actions that threaten dependable GPS and radar altime- ter performance are a classic example of how decisions made by a government bureaucrat could turn your world upside down. It’s our job—HAI’s and yours—to explain that to our elected repre- sentatives. The more voices they
hear from, the more they’ll pay attention, particularly when those voices are from the people they have sworn to represent. Commit now to reach out to your
elected officials. During the August recess, invite them to your place of business, give them a tour, and show them all you do for the community. Discuss with them the real-world consequences of bad public policy. Don’t know where to start? Reach out
to us at advocacy @ rotor .org, and we’ll gladly help you plan and connect with your lawmakers for a visit, including providing talking points that represent HAI’s posi- tions that will help our industry move forward.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
