If you listened much to the cellular telephone companies talk about the ongoing rollout of 5G performance standards for your devices, you might think it was the best thing since sliced bread, canned beer and kissing on the first date. The FAA isn’t so sure, however, and in early November published a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB AIR-21-18), Risk of Potential Adverse Effects on Radio Altimeters, seeking additional information from manufacturers and operators.
The SAIB results from an RTCA report entitled, “Assessment of C-Band Mobile Telecommunications Interference Impact on Low Range Radar Altimeter Operations.” Among other things, the RTCA found “a major risk that 5G telecommunications systems in the 3.7–3.98 GHz band will cause harmful interference to radar altimeters on all types of civil aircraft—including commercial transport airplanes; business, regional, and general aviation airplanes; and both transport and general aviation helicopters.”
