ADVOCATING FOR YOU By Cade Clark, John Shea, and Emma Taylor The Impact of 5G on Vertical Flight
WATCH Jim Viola
Testify before Congress on Effects of 5G
Operations 5G must be managed so that it can safely coexist with aviation.
HAI President and CEO James Viola provided testimony on the effects of 5G deployment on aviation safety to the US House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Aviation on Feb. 3, 2022. Below is an edited version of his remarks to the subcommittee.
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5G Flight Restrictions In carrying out its mission to maintain safety in the US National Airspace System, the FAA has put into place restrictions on helicopter flight operations to mitigate the risk of 5G interference with aircraft radio altimeters. The FAA has communicated these restrictions via two channels: a series of Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) and Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-23-13. As of Feb. 4, 2022, the agency had issued NOTAMs that identify 1,931 locations around the country where 5G interference occurs. AD 2021-23-13 states that when operating in US air- space, the following opera- tions requiring radio altimeters are prohibited in areas defined by the pres- ence of 5G C band wireless broadband interference as identified by the NOTAMs:
Performing approaches that require radio altimeter minimums for rotorcraft offshore operations. Barometric minimums must be used for these opera- tions instead.
Engaging hover autopilot modes that require radio altimeter data.
Engaging search-and-rescue (SAR) autopilot modes that require radio altimeter data.
Performing takeoffs and landings in accordance with any procedure (Category A, Category B, or by Performance Class in the Rotorcraft Flight Manual or Operations Specification) that requires the use of radio altimeter data.
12 ROTOR MARCH 2022 For each mission, an operator must review their
Rotorcraft Flight Manual and Operations Specification to determine if the use of radio altimeter data is required by provisions of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. If a radio altimeter is required and if the mission’s flight path would overlap a geographic location identified by a 5G-related NOTAM, then the restrictions listed in the AD apply to that flight. The first and third bullets impact specific segments of our industry. However, the fourth bullet, which prohib- its takeoffs and landings in areas identified by 5G-related NOTAMs, has significant, far-reaching consequences for the rotorcraft industry’s ability to conduct missions and provide public services, especially when you consider that prohibition applies to nearly 2,000 US locations. The issue is not limited to radio altimeter perfor- mance alone. According to the FAA Safety Alert for Operators 21007 of Dec. 23, 2021, “a wide range of other automated safety systems rely on radio altimeter data.” The agency goes on to note that 5G interference and the ensuing anomalous radio altimeter inputs could cause flight controls, including autopilots, to operate in an unexpected way, which pilots may not detect in time “to maintain continued safe flight and landing.”
Alternative Methods of Compliance To reduce these impacts of 5G interference, the FAA has implemented an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) process. This process evaluates the installed radio altimeter aboard an aircraft and its ability to with- stand spectrum interference. To date, the focus has been on Part 121 carriers, and
the FAA has done an outstanding job of streamlining the process to issue as many approvals as it has. The AMOC process is vital to ensure a healthy, viable US aviation
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