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FAA Sets Radio Altimeter Upgrade Deadlines

Published

28 July 2026

Topic

technology

Sectors

Aviation Tech

Geography

United States

Source

Read at avweb.com

Verified

Fusion42 · 28 July 2026 · Fusion42 review

The FAA has finalised rules requiring aircraft to upgrade radio altimeters to meet new interference-tolerance standards by December 2030 (Part 121) or October 2034 (other categories), with replacement costs estimated at $80,000-$120,000 per unit plus installation. The upgrade addresses potential interference from 5G wireless services in the Upper C-band, and a rebate programme funded by spectrum auction winners will offset costs for eligible domestic operators.

This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Aviation Tech. Wire is Fusion42's founder-focused intelligence feed: each story is connected to the funds and startups it names — every one with a live profile on Raise or Scout — so founders can follow the capital and the momentum behind the headline rather than just the headline itself. Wire analysis is one of the live surfaces Arthur reasons over.

◆ The Wire takeaway

You've just been handed a $675m-$970m retrofit market for Part 135 operators alone, and the FAA has given you until 2030 to capture it. If you make radio altimeters or avionics upgrades, this is a guaranteed procurement cycle with a rebate programme backing the spend.

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Topics

Aviation Techfaa-mandateavionics-retrofit5g-interferencecapex-requirement