FAA expands 5G approvals, operations resume

The United States Federal Aviation Administration – FAA has broadened the list of commercial aircraft types authorised to execute low-visibility approaches in 5G operational areas to include approximately 78% of the country’s active fleet.

As of January 20, the list of types comprises all B717, B737, B747, B757, B767, B777, B787, MD-10, MD-11, A300, A310, A319, A320, A330, A340, A350, and A380 models, as well as some E170 and E190 regional jets. As such, the only major jet family not included is the A220.

The FAA underlined that in total, it has now cleared 13 types of radio altimeters installed on the authorised types.

The authorisation of additional types, combined with the voluntary deferral of 5G deployment around some of the airports by the two telecoms, AT&T and Verizon, has allowed most previously cancelled flights to resume. Following the brief suspension of six of its 12 passenger routes to the US, Emirates (EK, Dubai Int’l) restored as of January 21. JAL – Japan Airlines, Air India, and Lufthansa have also said that their flights resumed as per normal schedule. In total, some 400 previously cancelled services have now been restored.

Following two delays triggered by concerns that the new technology could interfere with aircraft radio altimeters thereby handicapping low-visibility approaches and other procedures, 5G-C band broadband was launched in the US on January 19, although not within proximity to select airports.