plane
5G uses frequency bands similar to those used by aircraft altimeters. That could compromise security.
The new mobile communications standard is not only controversial because of feared health risks – as it now turns out, 5G can also disrupt flight operations. The French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) recently warned flight operators that 5G signals could affect the altimeters of airplanes and helicopters.
These devices use frequencies similar to the new cellular standard. According to the DGAC, it is to be feared that this could lead to unnoticed errors in the altitude measurement, which would seriously endanger flight safety.
Basically, this means that as a passenger, it is all the more urgent to switch off your smartphone or tablet on the plane or leave it in flight mode. However, the French authorities go further:
They require the antennas near airports to throttle their performance.
At 17 French airports, the DGAC has already ordered that antenna power be reduced.
The warning from France is a reaction to a study from the USA, according to the Federal Office of Civil Aviation. There, the frequencies used for 5G are closer to those of the altimeter. Now, however, a comprehensive study is also to be carried out for Europe, which will examine the risks more closely. The result is expected for summer 2022.
