Light, Flexible, and 5G-Immune

FreeFlight Systems has announced the progress of their RA-5500 and RA-6500 Terrain series radar altimeters, on Track for TSO Certification by the end of 2021. 

Shane LaPlante, VP of Sales and Marketing, said “The timing of this certification is crucial as the accelerating deployment of 5G networks increasingly challenges the safety of flight of operators around the world. The RA-5500 and RA-6500 add dual install capabilities in support of Part 25 and 29 certificated aircraft.” 

Both units are certified to FAA and EASA’s TSO-C87a and ETSO-C87a certifications. They are designed to simplify retrofitment for those systems with control heads, cabling, and antennas installed by integrating with legacy equipment. The RA-6500 features more comprehensive interfacing capabilities, including a legacy ARINC 552, so analog indicators may continue to serve. Improved display options are available, with FreeFlight’s RAD45 standalone indicator. 

Freeflight says their Terrain series radar altimeters are designed with 5G signal interference mitigation in mind, and “the first major update to the radar altimeter since the 1970’s.” With improvements like a 25 Hz update rate, an altitude range of -20 to 2,500 ft, antenna response angles up to ±20° pitch and ±30° roll, and a service ceiling of 55,000 ft. They describe their units as “robust”, and given the small, classic look of the altimeters, they fit right in.

As more cellular networks roll out 5G networking equipment, operators may look to upgrade sooner than usual. Recent developments in the FCC’s licensing of flexible-use overlay licenses in the 3.7-3.98 GHz band have raised warnings that the frequency proximity to radar altimetry may cause incorrect altitude readings. A December 2020 letter to the FAA from the NBAA warned that “5G systems will create a public safety hazard”, and that “Interference to radar altimeters from 5G signals “can cause lost, inaccurate, or erroneous data from a broad range of avionics, leading even the most well-trained of pilots to take incorrect actions based on hazardously misleading or missing information.” 

FreeFlight’s solution is available now, and they are currently fielding orders for the RA-6500. 

FMI: www.freeflightsystems.com