Safe flying: New SOP soon on 5G airwave infra around airports

PLAN TO UPGRADE ALL ALTIMETER  OF ALL AIRCRAFT BY AUGUST 2023

THE Government's Aviation and Telecom Departments are about to roll out SOPs for safer operations of flights in areas surrounding airports because of the 5G wave interference. The Altimeters used in aircrafts as well as the 5G network both operate in same frequency range which is the 'Mid-C Band Frequency Range'. The basic plan to operate includes Telecom companies setting up 5G infrastructure powering 5G anywhere but in flight paths near airports and in those areas with low power signals as well as to upgrade the Altimeters of aircrafts operating in the country by August 2023. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) started working on it after DGCA flagged concerns in possibility of 5G interference in flight operations challenging safer operations. The U.S Federal announced a similar plan to ensure safer flights in June this year.

"A RADIO ALTIMETER IS AN INSTRUMENT THAT PROVIDES DIRECT HEIGHT-ABOVE-TERRAIN INFORMATIONS TO VARIOUS FLIGHT SYSTEMS."

 

credits: honeywell aerospace

 

"The DoT is almost ready with an SOP for 5G networks around airports and has indicated that it will address all of DGCA's concerns," a senior government official told THE INDIAN EXPRESS."It is expected to setting up setup for 5G establishments a bit further away from airports and lowering the power of 5G signals emitted by this establishments so that there is no interference with flights' altimeters." According to THE INDIAN EXPRESS the company which manufactures the altimeter has sought for time till August 2023.

Earlier this year a Federation consisting of 6000 Indian pilots had written to DGCA raising similar concerns.

The U.S Aviation Authority has claimed 85 cases of 5G waves impacting flight operations.