Regulation
FAA Proposes New 5G Restrictions For Helicopters Operating In Canada
A new airworthiness directive proposed by the FAA would limit specific rotorcraft approaches, takeoffs, landings, and autopilot functions in Canada unless radio altimeters are proven capable of withstanding 5G interference.
Published on Oct. 8, the proposed directive affects rotorcraft fitted with radio altimeters across twenty different manufacturers, which include Sikorsky, Robinson, MD Helicopters, Leonardo, Bell, and Airbus. According to the agency, wireless broadband signals could trigger altimeter anomalies near the ground that go completely unnoticed by flight systems or pilots.
Operators flying rotorcraft that lack verified radio-altimeter interference tolerance would need to amend their rotorcraft flight manuals prior to conducting flights in Canadian airspace under the proposal. The mandated limitations would forbid select offshore approaches relying on radio-altimeter minimums, alongside hover and search-and-rescue autopilot modes dependent on radio-altimeter data. Furthermore, takeoffs and landings needing that specific data would face prohibitions.
This regulatory action stems from alterations to 5G interference protections in Canada. Transport Canada informed the FAA during March that adjustments scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026, will expose helicopter radio altimeters to a harsher interference environment. Rotorcraft modified to verify the required interference tolerance will avoid the proposed operating restrictions.
The FAA calculates that roughly 5,500 U.S.-registered helicopters feature radio altimeters, with 1,128 potentially outfitted for the impacted operations. Modifying the flight manual carries an estimated expense of $85 for each aircraft, while rotorcraft avoiding operations in Canada will not face any expenses. The FAA is gathering comments regarding the proposal until Nov. 23, 2026.
In a separate regulatory action, the FAA issued a proposed airworthiness directive targeting all Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B rotorcraft. Prompted by an incident involving a blocked jettisoning mechanism that prevented operation of a window's jettison function, the proposed directive mandates removing the jettisonable windows, cleaning their ropes, and executing an operational test of the window jettison systems to correct the unsafe condition.
Sources: AVweb, FAA (Federal Register)