Verizon and AT&T spent $68 billion to obtain licenses allowing them to use the C-band for 5G
5G Buffer Zones are being placed around 50 high-traffic, low visibility airports
Other airports that are often covered in fog and clouds such as San Francisco International and Seattle-Tacoma International are also included in the 50 airports given a 5G buffer zone. The FAA is expected to announce flight restrictions as soon as next week. These restrictions could result in the cancellation of some flights and delays when weather conditions turn poor.
Some wireless executives say that 5G poses no risk to passengers who are flying. The FAA says, “As tests prove that some altimeters are safe, the FAA will be able to remove some restrictions on operations of aircraft with those altimeters. Disruption risk will gradually decrease as more altimeters are tested and either deemed safe, retrofitted or replaced.”
Other airline industry executives are not pleased with this solution. Kevin Burke, chief executive of the airport trade group Airports Council International-North America, says, “This so-called fix will create winners and losers within the airport community, and the entire aviation system will suffer.”
Large and high-traffic airports in Boston, Portland, Ore., and Salt Lake City also didn’t make the final list. The FAA noted that “5G towers are far enough away that a natural buffer exists” at some airports. An agency spokesman declined to discuss why it decided not to create a buffer at certain airports.
