Federal Register #FAA-2026-11799

Proposed almond-board borrowing authority and helicopter radio-altimeter operating limits

This notice covers two proposed federal regulatory changes, not a purchase of products or services. - Government buyers - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS): proposal concerning California Almond Marketing Order 981. - U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): proposed airworthiness directive for helicopters equipped with radio altimeters. - USDA almond marketing proposal - Would allow the California Almond Board to borrow from a commercial lender for short-term seasonal cash-flow needs, with repayment within 12 months. - FAA helicopter safety proposal - Addresses possible interference to radio altimeters from 5G Lower C-Band wireless operations in Canadian airspace. - Non-radio-altimeter-tolerant helicopters would need a rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) revision before further flight in Canada. The revision would prohibit specified offshore approaches, autopilot modes, takeoffs, and landings that rely on radio-altimeter data. - A modification demonstrating radio-altimeter tolerance would end the operating limitations. FAA estimates compliance modification costs of up to $60,000 per helicopter, or up to $14,040 per helicopter for a filter modification; these are estimates, not purchase prices or quantities. - OEMs and vendors: None are named. - Products and quantities: No commercial products are requested, and no procurement quantities are provided.

Description

The Federal Aviation Administration proposes a new airworthiness directive for all helicopters equipped with a radio (radar) altimeter. The proposal addresses the risk that wireless broadband operations in the 3.7 to 3.98 GHz 5G Lower C-Band may interfere with radio altimeters in Canadian airspace. It would require revising the helicopter’s existing rotorcraft flight manual to include limitations prohibiting certain operations that rely on radio altimeter data while in Canadian airspace. Comments are due November 23, 2026.

View original listing