Airlines Have Until 2024 To Make 5G Upgrades Under FAA AD
The proposed airworthiness directive would require passenger and cargo aircraft in the U.S. be equipped with 5G C-Band tolerant altimeters by next February.
The FAA has proposed a requirement that passenger and cargo aircraft in the U.S. be equipped with 5G C-Band tolerant altimeters by 2024. [Credit: Adobe Stock]
Key Takeaways:
The FAA is proposing an Airworthiness Directive (AD) to mandate that all U.S. passenger and cargo aircraft be equipped with 5G C-Band tolerant altimeters or radio frequency filters by February 2024.
This directive addresses safety concerns arising from 5G C-Band signals interfering with aircraft radio altimeters, which are critical for flight operations, especially in low visibility.
Although wireless carriers previously implemented voluntary signal mitigations, over 100 incidents of potential 5G interference have been documented, prompting the FAA to make these aircraft retrofits mandatory.
The AD aims to provide a long-term solution that ensures aviation safety while allowing wireless companies to fully utilize their 5G networks.
The FAA is proposing an airworthiness directive (AD) that would require passenger and cargo aircraft in the U.S. be equipped with 5G C-Band tolerant altimeters or appropriate radio frequency filters by February 2024.
According to a statement sent to FLYING, “the proposed AD will continue to allow aviation and the 5G C-Band to safely coexist.”
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
