Regulatory Alert: FAA Releases List of 50 Airports Subject to Additional 5G Interference Mitigation Measures
January 8, 2022
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a list of 50 airports where AT&T and Verizon will implement additional mitigation measures to reduce the potential impact of 5G interference. These mitigation measures will include creating an “exclusion zone“ around runways by delaying the activation of 5G antennae near these airports. FAA finalized the list based on traffic volume, the number of low-visibility days, and geographic location of the airport. The agency's list also focused on those airports where mitigations would be most beneficial because a 5G antenna was specifically scheduled to be deployed within the exclusion zone for that airport. 
Notwithstanding the announcement, the effectiveness of these exclusion zones to mitigate potential impacts of 5G interference and enable low-visibility operations is still unclear. Based on discussions with FAA, the agency will still be issuing NOTAMs for airports with the proposed mitigations, as well as for other airports in the markets where the new 5G C-Band network will be deployed. This means operators will still need to obtain approval from FAA to conduct low-visibility operations by demonstrating that their aircraft or altimeter models are not susceptible to 5G interference.
AAAE expects there will be further developments and information for airports and operators as the industry moves toward the deployment of the 5G C-Band network on January 19. We continue to have discussions with senior leadership from FAA, lawmakers, and our airline partners, expressing our concerns over the rollout and working to minimize operational impacts to the greatest extent possible.
Background. Verizon and AT&T were originally expected to deploy their new 5G C-Band network in 46 different markets across the country on December 5, 2021, but it was delayed until January 5 after concerns were raised about potential impacts of 5G signals on aircraft operations. On January 4, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and FAA reached an agreement with Verizon and AT&T whereby the telecoms agreed to delay the rollout by two weeks “ to January 19 “ and to adopt some additional mitigation measures to reduce potential 5G interference at 50 airports. 
Airport Exclusion Zones. As part of the January 4 agreement, Verizon and AT&T agreed to implement mitigation measures, called “exclusion zones,“ at 50 airports for a period of six months, or through July 5, 2022. These “C-Band radio exclusion zones“ around the runways are expected to reduce C-Band signal levels by at least 10 times on the runway or during the last mile of final approach and the first mile after takeoff. These measures are similar to what has been adopted already in France. You can read additional details about these exclusion zones in the telecoms' January 2 letter to DOT and FAA. 
Impacted Airports. As outlined in our January 4 Regulatory Alert, AAAE has received questions regarding the list of airports that will or may be impacted by the upcoming 5G C-Band deployment. The cities where deployment will occur are known as Partial Economic Areas (PEAs). To determine if the city in which your airport is located falls within the PEAs, please refer to this PEA list published by FCC. Cities that correspond to PEA numbers 1-4, 6-10, 12-19, 21-41, and 43-50 on this list may be impacted by the new 5G C-Band rollout. If the city does not fall within the PEAs identified, the 5G C-Band will not be rolled out in your area until late 2023. 
With Friday's announcement, FAA has released the list of 50 airports in the 46 markets where the “exclusion zones“ will be implemented. While traffic volume, weather, and location were major factors, FAA also focused on those airports with affected instrument approaches and with an antenna that Verizon or AT&T was scheduled to deploy within the exclusion zone. However, as noted above, the agency has still not yet explained how effective these mitigation measures will be at reducing the potential impacts of 5G interference. 
What's Next? Ahead of the January 19 deployment of the 5G C-Band network, FAA is expected to release a series of NOTAMs that will identify airspace, airports, and instrument approach procedures (IAPs) where radio altimeters are unreliable due to 5G wireless broadband interference, and where operations will be prohibited under certain circumstances. Operators will be able to remove these restrictions by seeking approval from FAA and demonstrating that their aircraft or altimeter models are not susceptible to 5G interference. 
Aircraft and altimeter manufacturers and operators are working closely with FAA and the telecoms on technical solutions that would allow operators to obtain approval from FAA to operate in areas designated by the NOTAMs. These “approvals“ are called alternative means of compliance (AMOCs) and will allow operators to use specific type of aircraft to conduct low-visibility operations into airports where 5G C-Band signals are present. 
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a list of 50 airports where AT&T and Verizon will implement additional mitigation measures to reduce the potential impact of 5G interference. These mitigation measures will include creating an “exclusion zone“ around runways by delaying the activation of 5G antennae near these airports. FAA finalized the list based on traffic volume, the number of low-visibility days, and geographic location of the airport. The agency's list also focused on those airports where mitigations would be most beneficial because a 5G antenna was specifically scheduled to be deployed within the exclusion zone for that airport. 
Notwithstanding the announcement, the effectiveness of these exclusion zones to mitigate potential impacts of 5G interference and enable low-visibility operations is still unclear. Based on discussions with FAA, the agency will still be issuing NOTAMs for airports with the proposed mitigations, as well as for other airports in the markets where the new 5G C-Band network will be deployed. This means operators will still need to obtain approval from FAA to conduct low-visibility operations by demonstrating that their aircraft or altimeter models are not susceptible to 5G interference.
AAAE expects there will be further developments and information for airports and operators as the industry moves toward the deployment of the 5G C-Band network on January 19. We continue to have discussions with senior leadership from FAA, lawmakers, and our airline partners, expressing our concerns over the rollout and working to minimize operational impacts to the greatest extent possible.
Background. Verizon and AT&T were originally expected to deploy their new 5G C-Band network in 46 different markets across the country on December 5, 2021, but it was delayed until January 5 after concerns were raised about potential impacts of 5G signals on aircraft operations. On January 4, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and FAA reached an agreement with Verizon and AT&T whereby the telecoms agreed to delay the rollout by two weeks “ to January 19 “ and to adopt some additional mitigation measures to reduce potential 5G interference at 50 airports. 
Airport Exclusion Zones. As part of the January 4 agreement, Verizon and AT&T agreed to implement mitigation measures, called “exclusion zones,“ at 50 airports for a period of six months, or through July 5, 2022. These “C-Band radio exclusion zones“ around the runways are expected to reduce C-Band signal levels by at least 10 times on the runway or during the last mile of final approach and the first mile after takeoff. These measures are similar to what has been adopted already in France. You can read additional details about these exclusion zones in the telecoms' January 2 letter to DOT and FAA. 
Impacted Airports. As outlined in our January 4 Regulatory Alert, AAAE has received questions regarding the list of airports that will or may be impacted by the upcoming 5G C-Band deployment. The cities where deployment will occur are known as Partial Economic Areas (PEAs). To determine if the city in which your airport is located falls within the PEAs, please refer to this PEA list published by FCC. Cities that correspond to PEA numbers 1-4, 6-10, 12-19, 21-41, and 43-50 on this list may be impacted by the new 5G C-Band rollout. If the city does not fall within the PEAs identified, the 5G C-Band will not be rolled out in your area until late 2023. 
With Friday's announcement, FAA has released the list of 50 airports in the 46 markets where the “exclusion zones“ will be implemented. While traffic volume, weather, and location were major factors, FAA also focused on those airports with affected instrument approaches and with an antenna that Verizon or AT&T was scheduled to deploy within the exclusion zone. However, as noted above, the agency has still not yet explained how effective these mitigation measures will be at reducing the potential impacts of 5G interference. 
What's Next? Ahead of the January 19 deployment of the 5G C-Band network, FAA is expected to release a series of NOTAMs that will identify airspace, airports, and instrument approach procedures (IAPs) where radio altimeters are unreliable due to 5G wireless broadband interference, and where operations will be prohibited under certain circumstances. Operators will be able to remove these restrictions by seeking approval from FAA and demonstrating that their aircraft or altimeter models are not susceptible to 5G interference. 
Aircraft and altimeter manufacturers and operators are working closely with FAA and the telecoms on technical solutions that would allow operators to obtain approval from FAA to operate in areas designated by the NOTAMs. These “approvals“ are called alternative means of compliance (AMOCs) and will allow operators to use specific type of aircraft to conduct low-visibility operations into airports where 5G C-Band signals are present. 
