Navigation - 5G C-Band wireless Broadband Interference with Radio Altimeter System when operating in Canadian airspace - Amendment
- Published
- Effective
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Affected operators must revise their airplane flight manuals to incorporate the new limitations prohibiting certain radio altimeter-dependent operations in Canadian airspace by the effective date of July 1, 2026. Operators should also evaluate their aircraft's radio altimeter equipment to determine if upgrades are necessary to meet tolerance requirements specified by Transport Canada. Comments on the AD must be submitted to the FAA by August 14, 2026, following the provided procedures.
Summary
The document titled "Navigation - 5G C-Band wireless Broadband Interference with Radio Altimeter System when operating in Canadian airspace - Amendment" is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) final rule airworthiness directive (AD 2026-13-15) addressing interference issues affecting radio altimeters on various Boeing aircraft models including 707, 717, 727, DC-8, DC-9, DC-10, MD-10, MD-11, MD-81 through MD-88, and MD 90-30 airplanes. This AD responds to increased 5G Lower C-Band wireless broadband interference in Canadian airspace that compromises radio altimeter reliability and the proper functioning of critical airplane systems during approach, landing, and go-around phases. The directive mandates revisions to the airplane flight manual (AFM) to restrict certain operations dependent on radio altimeter data when operating in Canadian airspace.
What changed
This AD introduces new operational limitations specifically for Canadian airspace due to changes in 5G Lower C-Band mitigation measures implemented by Canadian authorities, which remove previous exclusion zones and reduce protections for non-radio altimeter tolerant airplanes. It requires affected operators to revise their AFMs to prohibit certain operations relying on radio altimeter data in Canadian airspace unless the aircraft is equipped with radio altimeters demonstrating tolerance to 5G interference. The AD builds upon previous FAA directives by addressing the evolving 5G interference environment in Canada.
Why it matters
This amendment is critical for aviation professionals because it addresses a growing safety risk posed by 5G wireless broadband interference with radio altimeters, which are essential for safe approach and landing operations. Operators must ensure compliance to prevent increased flightcrew workload and potential loss of safe flight control during critical flight phases. Maintenance and compliance teams need to be aware of the new geographic scope and technical requirements to avoid operational disruptions and regulatory penalties.
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