What Happened
Regulatory Update Affects Commercial Operators And Wireless Services
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is set to publish its final rule requiring radio altimeter upgrades on commercial aircraft, following the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) approval of additional upper C-band spectrum. The rule is expected to align with the FCC’s plan to auction 160 MHz of spectrum by mid-2027, with new wireless services permitted to begin in December 2030. The FAA’s draft rule proposed a two-phase upgrade plan, with commercial operators upgrading before the introduction of new wireless services and other affected aircraft following within two years. This development was first reported by Aviation Week.