Regulatory Alert: FAA Continues Efforts to Clear Aircraft for Operations in 5G C-Band Environment; AAAE Invited to Testify on 5G Impacts
January 27, 2022
With the 5G C-Band deployment occurring just over one week ago, we wanted to provide an update on the latest developments and current state of play on the ongoing efforts of FAA and the aviation industry to address operational impacts from the rollout. While many immediate concerns have been addressed, AAAE continues to work with the agency, the Hill, and our industry partners to ensure that FAA is approving additional aircraft for low-visibility operations as soon as possible, especially those aircraft supporting our regional carriers and operations, and long-term solutions are being implemented.
AAAE Invited to Testify on 5G Impacts. Today, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee announced that the Aviation Subcommittee will hold a hearing next week on the deployment of 5G C-Band and the impacts on the aviation system. Cathryn Stephens, A.A.E., Airport Director at Eugene Airport (EUG), will be testifying on AAAE's behalf and highlighting the ongoing operational impacts on airports, continued uncertainty and questions that exist in the industry, and the need for long-term, permanent solutions. FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, along with representatives from Airlines for America, the Regional Airline Association, Aerospace Industries Association, Air Line Pilots Association, Helicopter Association International, and the telecommunications industry will also be testifying. The hearing, “Finding the Right Frequency: 5G Deployment & Aviation Safety,“ will be held on Thursday, February 3, at 11 a.m. ET. 
FAA Clears Most of Commercial Fleet. As of today, FAA has approved approximately 90 percent of the U.S. commercial fleet to conduct low-visibility operations at many airports located in the 5G C-Band network. A full list of airplane models approved by FAA through alternative methods of compliance (AMOCs) can be found in our updated Airport FAQs or on FAA's dedicated 5G website. However, one important caveat is that some airplanes “ most notably, the Embraer 175 “ are not approved to conduct low-visibility operations at all runways at all airports affected by the 5G C-Band network. While operators and manufacturers are continuing to work closely with FAA to obtain additional approvals, we anticipate that some aircraft will have to upgrade their altimeters before they can be authorized to conduct these types of operations in the 5G C-Band environment. 
FAA Plans to Extend Existing AMOC Approvals. During a briefing with FAA this afternoon, FAA indicated that the AMOC approvals issued up until now are set to expire on January 31, but the agency is expected to re-issue or extend all AMOCs before February 1. FAA further noted that they do not expect any significant changes to the airport lists in the AMOCs that identify what runways aircraft can use to conduct low-visibility operations. FAA previously set a January 31 expiration date because while the 5G C-Band network has already been deployed, Verizon and AT&T continue to establish new 5G towers in the 46 markets where the C-Band is authorized. These new towers will be activated at the beginning of each month moving forward. FAA is working with the telecommunications companies to ensure that the new towers will not require the agency to substantially revise any of the AMOCs that have been issued.  
FAA Issues New NOTAMs. This afternoon, at 5 p.m. ET, FAA issued additional 5G-related Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) that will go into effect on February 1. AAAE was informed by FAA that the update includes 27 new aerodrome NOTAMs and modifies some of the airspace NOTAMs that were previously issued on January 13. However, one positive is that no additional Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) NOTAMs were issued. IAP NOTAMs have had the most impact on airports because they restrict approach procedures at airports that are critical for low-visibility operations. You can view all 5G-related NOTAMs on the agency's NOTAM Search website. 
AAAE Updates Its Airport FAQs on 5G Impacts. We have received many questions regarding the status of the 5G C-Band deployment and associated operational impacts and have been working with FAA and our industry partners to address your questions. Based on FAA publications and our discussions with the agency, we have developed, and continue to update, our “Airport FAQs on 5G Impacts“ to help you navigate the complexities of this 5G issue. 
With the 5G C-Band deployment occurring just over one week ago, we wanted to provide an update on the latest developments and current state of play on the ongoing efforts of FAA and the aviation industry to address operational impacts from the rollout. While many immediate concerns have been addressed, AAAE continues to work with the agency, the Hill, and our industry partners to ensure that FAA is approving additional aircraft for low-visibility operations as soon as possible, especially those aircraft supporting our regional carriers and operations, and long-term solutions are being implemented.
AAAE Invited to Testify on 5G Impacts. Today, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee announced that the Aviation Subcommittee will hold a hearing next week on the deployment of 5G C-Band and the impacts on the aviation system. Cathryn Stephens, A.A.E., Airport Director at Eugene Airport (EUG), will be testifying on AAAE's behalf and highlighting the ongoing operational impacts on airports, continued uncertainty and questions that exist in the industry, and the need for long-term, permanent solutions. FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, along with representatives from Airlines for America, the Regional Airline Association, Aerospace Industries Association, Air Line Pilots Association, Helicopter Association International, and the telecommunications industry will also be testifying. The hearing, “Finding the Right Frequency: 5G Deployment & Aviation Safety,“ will be held on Thursday, February 3, at 11 a.m. ET. 
FAA Clears Most of Commercial Fleet. As of today, FAA has approved approximately 90 percent of the U.S. commercial fleet to conduct low-visibility operations at many airports located in the 5G C-Band network. A full list of airplane models approved by FAA through alternative methods of compliance (AMOCs) can be found in our updated Airport FAQs or on FAA's dedicated 5G website. However, one important caveat is that some airplanes “ most notably, the Embraer 175 “ are not approved to conduct low-visibility operations at all runways at all airports affected by the 5G C-Band network. While operators and manufacturers are continuing to work closely with FAA to obtain additional approvals, we anticipate that some aircraft will have to upgrade their altimeters before they can be authorized to conduct these types of operations in the 5G C-Band environment. 
FAA Plans to Extend Existing AMOC Approvals. During a briefing with FAA this afternoon, FAA indicated that the AMOC approvals issued up until now are set to expire on January 31, but the agency is expected to re-issue or extend all AMOCs before February 1. FAA further noted that they do not expect any significant changes to the airport lists in the AMOCs that identify what runways aircraft can use to conduct low-visibility operations. FAA previously set a January 31 expiration date because while the 5G C-Band network has already been deployed, Verizon and AT&T continue to establish new 5G towers in the 46 markets where the C-Band is authorized. These new towers will be activated at the beginning of each month moving forward. FAA is working with the telecommunications companies to ensure that the new towers will not require the agency to substantially revise any of the AMOCs that have been issued.  
FAA Issues New NOTAMs. This afternoon, at 5 p.m. ET, FAA issued additional 5G-related Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) that will go into effect on February 1. AAAE was informed by FAA that the update includes 27 new aerodrome NOTAMs and modifies some of the airspace NOTAMs that were previously issued on January 13. However, one positive is that no additional Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) NOTAMs were issued. IAP NOTAMs have had the most impact on airports because they restrict approach procedures at airports that are critical for low-visibility operations. You can view all 5G-related NOTAMs on the agency's NOTAM Search website. 
AAAE Updates Its Airport FAQs on 5G Impacts. We have received many questions regarding the status of the 5G C-Band deployment and associated operational impacts and have been working with FAA and our industry partners to address your questions. Based on FAA publications and our discussions with the agency, we have developed, and continue to update, our “Airport FAQs on 5G Impacts“ to help you navigate the complexities of this 5G issue. 
