PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Some of the largest airlines in the United States are collectively asking President Joe Biden to step in as wireless telecommunications companies plan to roll out high-speed 5G technology nationwide on Wednesday.
In a letter to the White House, the CEOs of Delta, American and eight other airlines warned that the rollout could negatively affect the supply chain, put passengers at risk, and jeopardize the delivery of medical supplies – unless the president intervenes.
The CEOs say that thousands of flights could be "indefinitely grounded" or delayed if the rollout takes place near major airports, because the interference from 5G antennas could be worse than they originally thought for a key on-board device, crucial for pilots flying in poor weather conditions.
“To be blunt, the nation’s commerce will grind to a halt” unless the service is blocked near major airports, the CEOs said in a letter Monday to federal officials including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has previously taken the airlines’ side in the matter.
“Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially be grounded. This means that on a day like yesterday, more than 1,100 flights and 100,000 passengers would be subjected to cancellations, diversions or delays,” the CEOs said.
Airlines are asking the antennas be kept 2 miles from affected airports
In a statement, the FAA says it "will continue to ensure that the traveling public is safe as wireless companies deploy 5G."
Dana Wollman, editor in chief at Engadget, says wireless companies have already delayed the rollout twice and aren't interested in doing it again.
"Verizon and AT&T this week did indicate some willingness to at least respect the boundary around those key airports. What they don't want to do, seemingly, is agree to any more delays, full stop, on their entire rollout of this new mid-band 5G service," Wollman said.
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The new high-speed 5G service uses a segment of the radio spectrum that is close to that used by altimeters, which are devices that measure the height of aircraft above the ground.
"If you asked an airline or aviation industry supporter or lobbyist, I think they would point out that this technology is already being used in other parts of the world and doesn't seem to be causing interference or chaos," Wollman said. "It's just not something that US officials have fully expressed comfort with yet."
Two weeks ago, the companies struck a deal with the Federal Aviation Administration to delay the service for two more weeks and reduce the power of 5G transmitters near airports. That delay ends Wednesday.
AT&T and Verizon say their equipment will not interfere with aircraft electronics, and that the technology is being safely used in many other countries. Critics of the airline industry say the carriers had several years to upgrade altimeters that might be subject to interference from 5G.
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