Service + Solidarity Spotlight: ALPA Pilots Committed to Keeping Aviation Safe Amid 5G Signal Deployment

Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

For years, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and its industry partners have raised red flags on the aviation safety threat posed by the 5G C-Band spectrum that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auctioned off without requiring safety mitigations. AT&T and Verizon recently announced they would again delay deployment of 5G signals around key airport locations so that aviation stakeholders, including pilots, can ensure the safety of the air system by protecting commercial airliners against radar altimeter interference.

“While AT&T and Verizon’s announcement of a delay at certain airports acknowledges the seriousness of the aviation safety and operational risks, airline passengers and shippers deserve a commitment from the telecom companies not to launch the new 5G service at any of the airport locations identified by the FAA as being susceptible to 5G interference until a permanent fix is found,” said ALPA President Capt. Joe DePete. “The United States has the safest air transportation system in the world, and our trained-for-life pilots plan to keep it that way. But this is no way to protect that safety record and America’s vital aviation industry, which is so critical to our nation’s economy and the global supply chain.”