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) mandating that U.S. passenger and cargo aircraft be equipped with 5G C-Band tolerant altimeters or appropriate radio frequency filters by February 2024.
This directive is a long-term, mandatory solution designed to ensure aviation safety by preventing 5G C-Band signal interference with aircraft radio altimeters, which are crucial for flight operations, especially in low visibility.
The proposed AD follows expiring voluntary mitigations by wireless carriers and documented instances of 5G interference, with a related deadline of July 2023 for aircraft to complete retrofits or be prohibited from low-visibility landings.
The measure aims to allow wireless companies to achieve full use of their 5G networks while maintaining aviation safety, building on collaboration between industry stakeholders and federal agencies.
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.
