EASA AD US-2026-13-02: NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ADOPTION - EASA POSITION ATTACHED

What to do

Affected operators must revise the airplane flight manual to include the new limitations before further flight in Canadian airspace starting July 1, 2026. Operators conducting flights under 14 CFR part 121 must modify their airplanes to radio altimeter tolerant standards by this date to continue operations without restrictions. Comments on the directive must be submitted by August 14, 2026, following FAA procedures.

Summary

The Federal Aviation Administration's Airworthiness Directive 2026-13-02 is a final rule addressing all transport and commuter category airplanes equipped with radio altimeters. This directive responds to interference risks from 5G Lower C-Band wireless broadband operations in Canadian airspace, which can impair radio altimeter functionality. It requires revising airplane flight manuals and modifying certain airplanes to radio altimeter tolerant standards to ensure safe operations in Canadian airspace.

What changed

This new Airworthiness Directive introduces operational limitations prohibiting specific uses of radio altimeter data in Canadian airspace for non-radio altimeter tolerant airplanes. It mandates revising the airplane flight manual to restrict certain instrument approaches, automatic landings, manual flight control guidance to touchdown, and the use of Enhanced Flight Vision Systems. Additionally, airplanes operating under 14 CFR part 121 in Canadian airspace must be modified to radio altimeter tolerant configurations to terminate these limitations.

Why it matters

This directive is critical for aviation professionals because it addresses a significant safety risk posed by 5G interference with radio altimeters, which are essential for safe landing and flight operations. Operators must ensure compliance to avoid unsafe conditions that could lead to increased pilot workload or loss of safe flight and landing. Maintenance and compliance teams need to manage AFM revisions and airplane modifications to meet regulatory requirements and maintain operational authorization in Canadian airspace.