FAA Orders Boeing Fixes Over 5G Signal Interference
Published Date: 6/30/2026
Rule
Summary
The FAA is updating rules for Boeing 757 and 767 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 approaches starting July 1, 2026. This change helps avoid tricky situations but might mean extra work for flight crews and some operational limits.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Optional upgrades to remove limits
Operators may modify airplanes to become radio altimeter tolerant to terminate the AFM limitations. The FAA lists two optional cost examples: full radio altimeter replacement up to $120,000 per airplane, or adding a filter estimated at up to $14,040 per airplane (24 work-hours x $85 = $2,040 labor plus $12,000 parts).
Upgraded altimeters exempted
If your Boeing 757 or 767 airplane is a radio altimeter tolerant airplane (demonstrates the tolerances for 3.7–3.98 GHz as approved by the FAA), no AFM revision or the operating limitations in this AD are required for that airplane, and modifying a non-tolerant airplane to tolerant status terminates those AFM limitations.
AFM limits for Canadian flights
If you operate Boeing Model 757 or Model 767 airplanes that are NOT radio altimeter tolerant, you must revise the airplane flight manual (AFM) to add limitations prohibiting certain operations that require radio altimeter data when operating in Canadian airspace before further flight in Canadian airspace, effective July 1, 2026. The FAA estimates revising the AFM is 1 work-hour at $85 per airplane and estimates the rule could affect up to 1,084 U.S.-registered airplanes (many may already be upgraded).
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
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The FAA is updating rules for Boeing 787 airplanes because their radio altimeters can get mixed up by 5G signals in Canadian airspace. This can mess with landing systems, making landings longer and less safe. Starting July 1, 2026, pilots must follow new manual instructions to avoid these problems, keeping flights safe without extra costs for airlines.
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