The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is working with the aviation industry and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to ensure aviation safety during the introduction of expanded 5G services in Australia.
Date
We want to ensure that the rollout of 5G can be done in a way that ensures the safety of aircraft. We are continuing to monitor the introduction of 5G across Australia following international concern about the interaction between 5G and radio altimeters (radalts) in aircraft.
To help us observe and record potential effects of 5G on radalts, we encourage all aircraft operators to report possible interference to radalts and associated airborne equipment, especially at or below 2500 ft AGL. You can report this through our defect report service.
Operators should report any incorrect radalt displays or indications, or temporary loss of function, during take-off, approach and landing, as well as any aircraft system faults caused by radalt inputs. Read more about what to report in Airworthiness Bulletin AWB 34-020.
International radalt standards to be updated
The RTCA and the European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE) are updating the international standards for radio altimeters. These updates will ensure that newly developed radio altimeters can operate reliably when near 5G signals. We are following the development of the standards and will liaise with industry about the available options for upgrading when the information becomes available.
Upgrading radalts
In the United States, the FAA has mandated that aircraft operators upgrade to the highest performing radalts currently available (those which meet what is known as the Group 4 performance standard) to operate without operational restrictions.
Separately, the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) and the European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE) are currently updating the international standards for radio altimeters. These updates will ensure they can operate reliably when near 5G signals.
CASA will shortly provide further information on available avenues for operators to upgrade their Radalts.
Safety mitigations into 2026
Australia will see a range of mitigations on deployments above 3.7 GHz until 31 March 2026. This is designed to protect against the risk of 5G interfering with radio altimeters and minimise disruptions to aviation operations.
The mitigations restrict wireless broadband deployments in the 3.7-4.0 GHz band around runways and approaches identified by CASA at 19 airports nationally where instrument landings using radio altimeters are permitted:
- Avalon (Vic)
- Adelaide (SA)
- Alice Springs (NT)
- Ballina (NSW)
- Brisbane (Qld)
- Broome (WA)
- Cairns (Qld)
- Canberra (ACT)
- Darwin (NT)
- Gold Coast (Qld)
- Hamilton Island (Qld)
- Melbourne (Vic)
- Mount Isa (Qld)
- Norfolk Island
- Perth (WA)
- Sunshine Coast (Qld)
- Sydney (NSW)
- Townsville (Qld)
- Wellcamp (Qld)
Find out more about 5G and aviation safety.