EASA AD US-2023-12-13
Aircraft Flight Manual - Limitations / Operating Procedures - Amendment
Summary
The Aircraft Flight Manual - Limitations / Operating Procedures - Amendment is a final rule issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that supersedes Airworthiness Directive 2022-05-04. It applies to all Boeing 737 series airplanes including models 737-100 through 737-900ER, except certain 737-200 and -200C series equipped with specific flight control systems. The amendment requires revisions to the airplane flight manual to address interference from 5G C-Band wireless broadband operations affecting instrument landing system approaches and other flight procedures.
What Changed
This amendment supersedes AD 2022-05-04 by requiring updated limitations and operating procedures in the airplane flight manual to mitigate the effects of 5G C-Band interference on radio altimeters and related systems. It expands the scope of affected operations due to the broader deployment of 5G base stations and mandates specific procedures for ILS approaches, speedbrake deployment, go-arounds, and missed approaches. The amendment retains previous AFM revisions until June 30, 2023, after which new limitations become mandatory.
Why It Matters
This amendment is critical for aviation professionals because 5G C-Band interference can impair radio altimeter functionality, increasing flightcrew workload and potentially compromising safe flight operations during critical phases such as approach and landing. Operators, maintenance, and compliance teams must ensure that flight manuals reflect the updated procedures to maintain regulatory compliance and operational safety. Failure to comply could lead to unsafe conditions and regulatory penalties.
What To Do
Affected operators must revise their airplane flight manuals to incorporate the new limitations and operating procedures addressing 5G interference by June 30, 2023. They should continue to follow the existing AFM revisions from AD 2022-05-04 until that date. Compliance teams should verify that all flight crews are trained on the updated procedures and that dispatch and operational practices align with the amended requirements.
AI-generated summary from official EASA source document. Always verify against the original.