Operators who fly certain instrument approach procedures must upgrade their radio altimeter (radalt) equipment before 31 March 2026.
Date
These actions will support the safety of flights when mitigations in place at identified airports to protect radalts from 5G transmissions are removed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) in 2026.
Operators must:
- Check the equipment requirements and approach types impacted: Visit our 5G and aviation safety page for more information.
- Consult your aircraft and equipment manufacturers: Discuss upgrade options and plan your purchase and fitment.
- Upgrade ASAP: Don’t wait – upgrade or replace your equipment now.
If your aircraft does not meet the equipment requirements, you will not be able to fly certain instrument approaches after 31 March 2026.
You do not need to do anything if your aircraft already meets the equipment requirements or you do not fly these kinds of instrument approach procedures. There are 19 identified airports which currently have these approaches.
Safety mitigations to be removed in 2026
Australia currently has mitigations in place to restrict wireless broadband deployments above 3.7 GHz near runways at airports with instrument approach procedures reliant on radalts. These mitigations are controlled and implemented by ACMA.
The mitigations are designed to protect against the risk of 5G interference and minimise disruptions to aviation operations while giving operators time to upgrade equipment. These mitigations will be removed after 31 March 2026.
Report possible interference
To help us observe and record potential effects of 5G, we encourage all aircraft operators to report possible interference to radalts and associated airborne equipment, especially at or below 2,500 ft AGL. You can report this through our defect report service.
Operators should report:
- any incorrect radalt displays or indications
- temporary loss of function, during take-off, approach and landing
- any aircraft system faults caused by radalt inputs.
Read more about what to report in Airworthiness Bulletin AWB 34-020.
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