Regulatory Alert: FAA Announces Aircraft Approved for Low-Visibility Operations; AAAE Hosts 5G C-Band Deployment Update Call
January 19, 2022
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provided more details on the agency's efforts to approve aircraft to conduct low-visibility operations at airports located in markets where Verizon and AT&T deployed their new 5G C-Band network this morning. Specifically, FAA has issued five approvals, called “alternative methods of compliance“ (AMOCs), to Boeing and Airbus for a series of aircraft models that represent 62 percent of the U.S. commercial fleet. These airplane models include some Boeing 717, 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, MD-10/-11, and Airbus A300, A310, A319, A320, A321, A330, A340, A350, A380. 
As part of today's announcement, FAA released a list of all the airports that are included in the five AMOC approvals that were issued earlier this morning. AAAE had requested this information in a letter to the administration yesterday, which called for greater transparency into the operational impacts caused by the C-Band deployment. The airport list published by FAA includes all the airports that have had instrument approaches restricted by Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs). These are the same airports that FAA has considered most impacted by the 5G C-Band network and where the approved airplane models identified above can now conduct low-visibility operations. Inclusion of all the affected airports into the AMOCs was largely a result of Verizon and AT&T agreeing to additional mitigation measures around 82 airports, as we reported in our January 19 Regulatory Alert. 
In terms of next steps, FAA is continuing to review a series of AMOC requests from manufacturers that would enable even more aircraft to conduct low-visibility operations at the affected airports. We highly encourage airports to regularly check FAA's dedicated 5G website, which will be updated, as additional AMOC requests are considered, to identify all airplane models that have been approved by FAA to conduct low-visibility operations in the 5G C-Band environment. In the meantime, we will continue to push FAA to approve these requests as soon as possible, including for those aircraft that support our regional carriers and operations, and keep our members updated with any other major developments. 
AAAE Webinar Update on 5G C-Band Deployment. This afternoon, AAAE hosted a virtual meeting to review and discuss deployment of the 5G C-Band network and the ongoing impacts and implications for airports. Thank you to everyone who was able to participate. If you could not, you can watch the recording here and download the short slide deck here.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provided more details on the agency's efforts to approve aircraft to conduct low-visibility operations at airports located in markets where Verizon and AT&T deployed their new 5G C-Band network this morning. Specifically, FAA has issued five approvals, called “alternative methods of compliance“ (AMOCs), to Boeing and Airbus for a series of aircraft models that represent 62 percent of the U.S. commercial fleet. These airplane models include some Boeing 717, 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, MD-10/-11, and Airbus A300, A310, A319, A320, A321, A330, A340, A350, A380. 
As part of today's announcement, FAA released a list of all the airports that are included in the five AMOC approvals that were issued earlier this morning. AAAE had requested this information in a letter to the administration yesterday, which called for greater transparency into the operational impacts caused by the C-Band deployment. The airport list published by FAA includes all the airports that have had instrument approaches restricted by Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs). These are the same airports that FAA has considered most impacted by the 5G C-Band network and where the approved airplane models identified above can now conduct low-visibility operations. Inclusion of all the affected airports into the AMOCs was largely a result of Verizon and AT&T agreeing to additional mitigation measures around 82 airports, as we reported in our January 19 Regulatory Alert. 
In terms of next steps, FAA is continuing to review a series of AMOC requests from manufacturers that would enable even more aircraft to conduct low-visibility operations at the affected airports. We highly encourage airports to regularly check FAA's dedicated 5G website, which will be updated, as additional AMOC requests are considered, to identify all airplane models that have been approved by FAA to conduct low-visibility operations in the 5G C-Band environment. In the meantime, we will continue to push FAA to approve these requests as soon as possible, including for those aircraft that support our regional carriers and operations, and keep our members updated with any other major developments. 
AAAE Webinar Update on 5G C-Band Deployment. This afternoon, AAAE hosted a virtual meeting to review and discuss deployment of the 5G C-Band network and the ongoing impacts and implications for airports. Thank you to everyone who was able to participate. If you could not, you can watch the recording here and download the short slide deck here.
