# 2026-13205: 5G Signals Threaten Classic Jets Too, FAA Warns

2026-13205, Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes, is a Federal Register rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-06-30, effective 2026-07-01; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-07).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13205
- As of: 2026-07-07
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-13205
- Title: Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 39425
- Published: 2026-06-30
- Effective: 2026-07-01
- Comments close: 2026-08-14
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2120-AA64
- Last updated: 2026-07-07

## In one line

5G Signals Threaten Classic Jets Too, FAA Warns

## Summary

The FAA is updating rules for certain Boeing and McDonnell Douglas airplanes because their radio altimeters can get messed up by 5G signals in Canadian airspace. Pilots will have to follow new flight manual limits to keep flights safe during landings and go-arounds starting July 1, 2026. This change helps avoid tricky situations but might mean some extra work for flight crews and airlines flying these models.

## Abstract

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 707, 717, and 727 airplanes; Model DC-8, DC-9, and DC-10 airplanes; Model MD-10 and MD-11 airplanes; Model DC-9-81 (MD-81), DC-9-82 (MD-82), DC-9-83 (MD-83), DC-9-87 (MD-87), and MD-88 airplanes; and Model MD 90-30 airplanes. This AD was prompted by the determination that radio altimeters cannot be relied upon to perform their intended function if they experience interference from wireless broadband operations in the 3.7-3.98 GHz frequency band (5G Lower C- Band) while operating in Canadian airspace, and the determination that during approach, landings, and go-arounds, as a result of this interference, certain airplane systems may not properly function, resulting in increased flightcrew workload while on approach with the flight director, autothrottle, or autopilot engaged, which could result in reduced ability of the flightcrew to maintain safe flight and landing of the airplane. This AD requires revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to incorporate limitations prohibiting certain operations requiring radio altimeter data when operating in Canadian airspace. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

## Effects PRIA read

- Must revise flight manuals before Canada flights: cost, low. If you operate the listed Boeing or McDonnell Douglas airplane models and your airplane is not radio altimeter tolerant, you must revise the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to add new limitations before any further flight in Canadian airspace. This requirement is effective July 1, 2026 and applies to…
- Estimated AFM compliance cost and fleet size: cost, low. The FAA estimates this AD affects 502 U.S.-registered airplanes and that revising the AFM for non-radio-altimeter tolerant airplanes will take about 1 work-hour per airplane at $85 each, for an estimated total up to $42,670 across U.S. operators. The AD also notes airplanes that do not operate in C…
- Optional hardware fixes can remove limits but cost much more: cost, high. Operators may choose to modify airplanes to become radio altimeter tolerant, which terminates the AFM limitations. The AD lists optional actions with estimated costs: a full radio altimeter replacement option up to $120,000 per airplane, or a filter addition option estimated up to $14,040 per airpl…
- Radio-altimeter tolerant planes are exempt: benefit, low. If an airplane demonstrates it is radio altimeter tolerant using the tolerances and FAA-approved methods in the AD, no AFM changes or limitations are required for that airplane when operating in Canadian airspace. Previously approved alternative methods of compliance (AMOCs) for AD 2023-12-15 that…

## Related documents

- [2026-15585](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15585): Requirements for Interference-Tolerant Radio Altimeter Systems, 2026-07-31
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- [2026-13126](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13126): Designation-Restrict the Operation of Unmanned Aircraft in Close Proximity to a Fixed Site Facility; Extension of Comment Period, 2026-06-30
- [2026-08943](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08943): Designation-Restrict the Operation of Unmanned Aircraft in Close Proximity to a Fixed Site Facility, 2026-05-06
- [2025-04846](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-04846): Extension of the Prohibition Against Certain Flights in the Territory and Airspace of Libya, 2025-03-20
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## Sources
- [2026-13205 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/30/2026-13205/airworthiness-directives-the-boeing-company-airplanes)
- [2026-13205 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-30/pdf/2026-13205.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-13198, Fluoxapiprolin; Pesticide Tolerances](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13198)
- [Next: 2026-13206, Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13206)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13205 (as of 2026-07-07).