Regulatory Alert: FAA Releases 5G Dashboard Identifying Airports Where Approved Aircraft Can Conduct Low-Visibility Operations
February 2, 2022
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a dashboard that identifies the airport runways located in the 5G C-Band environment where each FAA-approved aircraft model is permitted to conduct low-visibility operations under the terms of an “alternative method of compliance“ (AMOC). For each airport depicted on the dashboard, users can view (1) the percentage of the U.S. commercial fleet approved to conduct low-visibility operations at the airport, and (2) the specific aircraft models that are approved to conduct such operations on each runway. The dashboard only provides information for the 87 airports with low-visibility approach procedures that were impacted by the 5G C-Band deployment. 
AAAE, along with other aviation organizations, has been asking FAA to provide greater transparency into the approvals that the agency issued to enable a wide range of aircraft to conduct low-visibility operations in a 5G C-Band environment. The dashboard is a positive step forward for airports to plan for potential operational impacts more proactively. However, we continue to express our concerns that some critical aircraft have yet to receive an AMOC approval; activation of additional 5G towers, which is occurring monthly, prevents airports from knowing long-term what aircraft can use their runways; and the industry lacks a permanent, long-term solution to protect runways from potential 5G C-Band interference.
Tomorrow, Cathryn Stephens, A.A.E., Airport Director at Eugene Airport (EUG), will be testifying on AAAE's behalf at a House Aviation Subcommittee hearing on the deployment of 5G C-Band and the impacts on the aviation system. She will be 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 and other representatives from the aviation and telecommunications industries will also testify. 
Overview of 5G Dashboard. The purpose of the dashboard, which can be accessed on FAA's dedicated 5G website, is to outline the percentage of the U.S. commercial fleet and the type of aircraft that can conduct low-visibility operations at the 87 airports (and their runways) that have been impacted by the 5G C-Band rollout. Based on discussions with FAA and our review, there are some additional details and context that we wanted to provide regarding the dashboard: 
• Scope of Airports. The dashboard only provides information for the 87 airports that have been affected by FAA Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) due to deployment of the 5G C-Band network. These are the airports with low-visibility operations that are located in the 5G C-Band environment. 
• Aircraft Types by Airport Runway. To view what aircraft types are cleared for a specific airport runway, click on an airport on the map and a specific runway on the right panel. The approved aircraft models are then listed on the top of the dashboard. 
• Airport Runways by Aircraft Type. To view what airport runways are cleared for a specific aircraft type, scroll to the top of the dashboard and select an aircraft model. The approved airports are then shown on the map and the specific runways are listed on the right side of the dashboard. 
• Percentage of Aircraft Approved to Land. Based on AAAE's review, we expect there to be some confusion over how FAA presents data on the percentage of aircraft models approved to conduct low-visibility operations on each runway. Parts of the dashboard suggest that 100 percent of the U.S. commercial fleet is approved for these operations on all runways at an airport even though that is not the case. To eliminate confusion, we have raised this issue with FAA to ensure this is clarified in future dashboard updates. 
• Future Updates. AAAE has been informed that the dashboard provides “live“ data regarding the airport runways that have been included in an AMOC approval for a specific aircraft model. FAA indicated that the dashboard will be updated in near real time as new AMOCs are issued. However, FAA advises that NOTAMs remain the official source of information about each airport. 
Latest 5G Developments for Airports. 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 areas where 5G C-Band has been deployed. This percentage has remained steady for about a week now. It is important to note that some airplane models approved by FAA are not approved to conduct low-visibility operations at all runways at all airports affected by the 5G C-Band. This has led to confusion and necessitated FAA's development of the dashboard that identifies which runways can support what aircraft. FAA has also acknowledged that some aircraft operators will have to upgrade their altimeters before they can gain unrestricted access to instrument approach procedures at airports located in the 5G C-Band environment. 
Over the past weekend, FAA extended all the AMOC approvals that have been issued to aircraft manufacturers up until now and set February 28 as the new expiration date for the approvals. Unfortunately, Verizon and AT&T continue to establish new 5G towers in the 46 markets where the C-Band is authorized to be deployed. These new towers will be activated at the beginning of each month moving forward and will require FAA to regularly ensure that the towers do not impact aircraft operations and AMOC approvals do not need to be modified. AAAE has expressed concern that the evolving location of 5G towers in proximity to airports prevents airports from knowing long-term what aircraft can use their runways.
House Hearing on 5G Impacts. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Aviation Subcommittee is set to hold a hearing, “Finding the Right Frequency: 5G Deployment & Aviation Safety,“ tomorrow, February 3, at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the 5G C-Band deployment and its impacts on the aviation system. Cathryn Stephens, A.A.E., from EUG will be testifying on AAAE's behalf. 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. We will provide a full report following the hearing.  
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a dashboard that identifies the airport runways located in the 5G C-Band environment where each FAA-approved aircraft model is permitted to conduct low-visibility operations under the terms of an “alternative method of compliance“ (AMOC). For each airport depicted on the dashboard, users can view (1) the percentage of the U.S. commercial fleet approved to conduct low-visibility operations at the airport, and (2) the specific aircraft models that are approved to conduct such operations on each runway. The dashboard only provides information for the 87 airports with low-visibility approach procedures that were impacted by the 5G C-Band deployment. 
AAAE, along with other aviation organizations, has been asking FAA to provide greater transparency into the approvals that the agency issued to enable a wide range of aircraft to conduct low-visibility operations in a 5G C-Band environment. The dashboard is a positive step forward for airports to plan for potential operational impacts more proactively. However, we continue to express our concerns that some critical aircraft have yet to receive an AMOC approval; activation of additional 5G towers, which is occurring monthly, prevents airports from knowing long-term what aircraft can use their runways; and the industry lacks a permanent, long-term solution to protect runways from potential 5G C-Band interference.
Tomorrow, Cathryn Stephens, A.A.E., Airport Director at Eugene Airport (EUG), will be testifying on AAAE's behalf at a House Aviation Subcommittee hearing on the deployment of 5G C-Band and the impacts on the aviation system. She will be 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 and other representatives from the aviation and telecommunications industries will also testify. 
Overview of 5G Dashboard. The purpose of the dashboard, which can be accessed on FAA's dedicated 5G website, is to outline the percentage of the U.S. commercial fleet and the type of aircraft that can conduct low-visibility operations at the 87 airports (and their runways) that have been impacted by the 5G C-Band rollout. Based on discussions with FAA and our review, there are some additional details and context that we wanted to provide regarding the dashboard: 
• Scope of Airports. The dashboard only provides information for the 87 airports that have been affected by FAA Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) due to deployment of the 5G C-Band network. These are the airports with low-visibility operations that are located in the 5G C-Band environment. 
• Aircraft Types by Airport Runway. To view what aircraft types are cleared for a specific airport runway, click on an airport on the map and a specific runway on the right panel. The approved aircraft models are then listed on the top of the dashboard. 
• Airport Runways by Aircraft Type. To view what airport runways are cleared for a specific aircraft type, scroll to the top of the dashboard and select an aircraft model. The approved airports are then shown on the map and the specific runways are listed on the right side of the dashboard. 
• Percentage of Aircraft Approved to Land. Based on AAAE's review, we expect there to be some confusion over how FAA presents data on the percentage of aircraft models approved to conduct low-visibility operations on each runway. Parts of the dashboard suggest that 100 percent of the U.S. commercial fleet is approved for these operations on all runways at an airport even though that is not the case. To eliminate confusion, we have raised this issue with FAA to ensure this is clarified in future dashboard updates. 
• Future Updates. AAAE has been informed that the dashboard provides “live“ data regarding the airport runways that have been included in an AMOC approval for a specific aircraft model. FAA indicated that the dashboard will be updated in near real time as new AMOCs are issued. However, FAA advises that NOTAMs remain the official source of information about each airport. 
Latest 5G Developments for Airports. 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 areas where 5G C-Band has been deployed. This percentage has remained steady for about a week now. It is important to note that some airplane models approved by FAA are not approved to conduct low-visibility operations at all runways at all airports affected by the 5G C-Band. This has led to confusion and necessitated FAA's development of the dashboard that identifies which runways can support what aircraft. FAA has also acknowledged that some aircraft operators will have to upgrade their altimeters before they can gain unrestricted access to instrument approach procedures at airports located in the 5G C-Band environment. 
Over the past weekend, FAA extended all the AMOC approvals that have been issued to aircraft manufacturers up until now and set February 28 as the new expiration date for the approvals. Unfortunately, Verizon and AT&T continue to establish new 5G towers in the 46 markets where the C-Band is authorized to be deployed. These new towers will be activated at the beginning of each month moving forward and will require FAA to regularly ensure that the towers do not impact aircraft operations and AMOC approvals do not need to be modified. AAAE has expressed concern that the evolving location of 5G towers in proximity to airports prevents airports from knowing long-term what aircraft can use their runways.
House Hearing on 5G Impacts. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Aviation Subcommittee is set to hold a hearing, “Finding the Right Frequency: 5G Deployment & Aviation Safety,“ tomorrow, February 3, at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the 5G C-Band deployment and its impacts on the aviation system. Cathryn Stephens, A.A.E., from EUG will be testifying on AAAE's behalf. 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. We will provide a full report following the hearing.  
