Pilots Detect Possible Interference Since 5G Rollout — And Regulators Are Investigating

US safety regulators have received more than 100 pilot reports of possible interference from 5G wireless signals -- including three near Chicago O’Hare International Airport -- since the new mobile phone service began less than two weeks ago. The reports of anomalies on aircraft devices known as radar altimeters are being reviewed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Interference from the new 5G service has been ruled out in many of the cases, and it remains unclear whether the others indicate a safety hazard or just pilots being overly cautious. “We are using our established safety-reporting systems to look into a handful of reports of possible 5G interference,” the FAA said in a statement. “So far none of these reports have been validated.” But the reports, combined with the vital role altimeters play in safety, help explain why the FAA has taken such a stringent approach to minimizing risks from the new wireless signals. New 5G mobile phone service introduced by AT&T and Verizon operate on so-called C-band frequencies that are close to those used by radar altimeters. The impact on aviation in the US has so far been minimal as the FAA and wireless companies have agreed to at least temporarily restrict placement of cell towers near airports. But with wireless companies eager to activate hundreds more cell towers near airports and to expand into new frequency bands, the issue remains far from settled.