Federal Register #2026-15585

FAA Mandates Interference-Tolerant Radio Altimeter Upgrades for U.S. Aircraft

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), under the Department of Transportation, has issued a final rule requiring all aircraft operating under 14 CFR parts 91, 121, and 129 in the contiguous United States and D.C. to upgrade or retrofit their radio altimeter (RA) systems to meet new interference-tolerant performance standards. - Government Buyer: - Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - Department of Transportation - Flight Technologies and Procedures Division, AFS400 - OEMs and Vendors: - No specific OEMs or vendors are named, but all manufacturers and suppliers of radio altimeter systems are impacted - Products/Services Requested: - Radio Altimeter Systems (approx. 58,514 units) - Must meet new minimum performance standards for interference tolerance in the 3.7-4.2 GHz C-band spectrum - Includes replacement or upgrade of existing RA transceiver units - Unique/Notable Requirements: - All affected aircraft must comply by either December 30, 2030 (for part 121 and certain part 129 aircraft) or October 31, 2034 (for all others) - Systems must withstand interference from adjacent wireless signals and continue to provide accurate altitude readings - Estimated retrofit costs for the civil fleet are $4.82 to $7.13 billion, with military costs estimated at $3-$4 billion - A rebate program is planned for domestic operators - The rule is in response to the FCC's expansion of wireless use in the Upper C-band and aims to maintain aviation safety and prevent operational disruptions

Description

This final rule issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires all aircraft equipped with radio altimeters to meet specific minimum performance requirements to withstand interference from wireless signals in the C-band spectrum. The rule supports the Federal Communications Commission's July 2026 Report and Order and aims to ensure aviation safety by mandating compliance by December 30, 2030, for certain aircraft and by October 31, 2034, for others. The regulation applies to aircraft operating under parts 91, 121, and 129 of the Code of Federal Regulations and addresses the impact of wireless signals on radio altimeter accuracy. The effective date of the rule is September 29, 2026.

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