FAA Issues Airworthiness Directives to Guard Against 5G Interference

Both prohibit certain operations requiring radio altimeter (RadAlt) data when in the presence of 5G.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, December 08, 2021 at 04:16 PM ET

Verified

AT&T and Verizon voluntarily agreed to delay their plans for deployment of 5G until January 2022. Credit: Adobe Stock

Key Takeaways:

The FAA has issued airworthiness directives (ADs) prohibiting aircraft operations reliant on radar altimeter data when in the presence of 5G C-Band wireless transmissions.
These ADs are based on concerns that 5G C-Band interference (3.7-3.98 GHz) can make radar altimeters unreliable, compromising critical flight information, especially during approaches and departures in poor weather.
The directives require revisions to flight manuals and will lead to NOTAMs at specific airports, restricting operations such as ILS approaches, automatic landings, and the use of enhanced flight vision systems.
This action follows ongoing collaboration between the FAA, FCC, and wireless companies to address aviation safety concerns related to 5G deployment, which was voluntarily delayed to January 2022.

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The FAA has released two airworthiness directives (AD) requiring operators of passenger-carrying aircraft to prohibit certain operations requiring radar (or radio) altimeter data when in the presence of 5G wireless transmissions.

When installed, this type of altimeter provides information critical to situational awareness, including the aircraft’s altitude in absolute terms above the ground. This is particularly important during approaches and departures in inclement weather.