industry
FCC Restricts Altimeter Upgrade Rebates to US Airlines Only
Photo: Mehrad Watson / CC BY-SA 3.0 — via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) · source
The Federal Communications Commission has restricted its multibillion-dollar rebate program for 5G-tolerant radio altimeters exclusively to domestic operators, shutting out international airlines. While the Federal Aviation Administration mandates these crucial avionics upgrades for all commercial aircraft operating in United States airspace, the International Air Transport Association argues this funding exclusion violates Open Skies treaties and federal law. For flight crews, the ongoing international dispute highlights the complex financial hurdles of modernizing radar altimeter equipment essential for safe low-visibility approaches.