NBAA Joins Coalition to Address Aviation Industry Concerns Over Radio Altimeter Mandate

Industry groups and stakeholders raise issues over costs and timeline for required upgrades

Mar. 14, 2026 at 5:18pm

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The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has joined a coalition of aircraft and avionics manufacturers, industry groups, and other stakeholders to provide feedback on the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) proposed mandate requiring new radio altimeters to be installed on tens of thousands of aircraft and helicopters. The coalition has raised concerns over the estimated $4.49 billion in costs and the 2034 target date for completing the retrofits, claiming the FAA's estimates are too low.

Why it matters

Radio altimeters provide critical altitude data to support flight safety and operations, but the proposed FCC expansion of wireless telecommunications into the frequency spectrum used by altimeters has prompted the FAA to require upgrades. The coalition is advocating for financial incentives to help offset the high costs, especially for Part 91 and Part 135 operators who may struggle to bear the burden.

The details

The Joint Aviation Community coalition was formed to detail the industry's views on the proposed radio altimeter mandate. The coalition claims the FAA's $4.49 billion cost estimate is too low, and the actual cost could be up to $120,000 per unit, significantly higher than the FAA's $80,000 estimate. The coalition is urging the FAA to support financial incentives to accelerate the retrofit schedule and adequately reflect the full costs borne by the aviation sector.

  • The NBAA announced its participation in the coalition on March 14, 2026.
  • The FAA has proposed a target date of 2034 for completing the radio altimeter upgrades across the industry.

The players

NBAA

The National Business Aviation Association, a leading industry group representing the business aviation sector.

Joint Aviation Community coalition

A coalition formed by multiple aircraft and avionics manufacturers, industry groups, and other stakeholders to provide feedback on the FAA's proposed radio altimeter mandate.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

The U.S. government agency responsible for regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The U.S. government agency responsible for the regulation and oversight of civil aviation.

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What they’re saying

“Over many decades, the business aviation sector has enthusiastically adopted new technologies that ensure flying remains the safest form of transportation. At the same time, we recognize the need to address potential concerns over the cost and other impacts of new mandates for technology equipage. We look forward to collaborating with the FAA to address the concerns involving its radio altimeter proposal, so that we can ensure all aircraft are equipped with the technology needed to protect essential safety systems from signal interference by non-aviation parties.”

— Heidi Williams, NBAA VP for Air Traffic Services (NBAA)

What’s next

The FAA will review the comments and feedback from the Joint Aviation Community coalition as it finalizes the details of the radio altimeter mandate, including potential financial incentives to support the industry's efforts to meet the 2034 target date.

The takeaway

The proposed radio altimeter mandate highlights the aviation industry's commitment to safety and the need to balance new technology requirements with the practical and financial challenges faced by operators, especially smaller and private aircraft owners. Collaborative efforts between regulators and industry stakeholders will be crucial to ensuring a smooth and cost-effective implementation of this critical safety upgrade.