HOW AND WHEN DID RTCA GET INVOLVED WITH THE 5G ISSUE?
In April 2020, RTCA formed a multi-stake holder group to provide a response to the FCC Report and Order addressing the use of the 5G spectrum. The PMC tasked Special Committee 239 (SC-239), which had been tasked to develop updates to the minimum operations performance standards for low range radar altimeters, to author a report and coordinate with any other multi-stakeholder groups evaluating potential effects of the FCC Report and Order on Radar Altimeter operations or performance.
WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE RTCA MULTI-STAKEHOLDER GROUP THAT DID THE TESTING AND ANALYSIS?
RTCA invited all interested parties to participate in the multi-stakeholder group in the FCC
docket and sent out a call for participation to RTCA Members in April 2020. During the
development of the white paper, members from telecom, aviation, academia, and industry
associations participated and were included in the Final Review and Comment of the document. The full membership is listed in the report.
WHAT WERE THE CONCLUSIONS PRESENTED IN YOUR REPORT?
Lab testing, simulation, and post processing of data indicated that interference was possible
given the information telecommunications provided on the power and broadcasting details of 5G signals.
WHAT IS RTCA DOING TODAY TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS AND WHEN WILL IT BE COMPLETED?
In December 2020, in collaboration with our European counterparts, RTCA began work to
update the minimum operational performance standards for radar altimeters, RTCA DO-155/EUROCAE ED-30, to produce a new harmonized document for use in a FAA technical
standard order (TSO) revision. Currently, the document is scheduled to be published in
December 2022.
In addition, in December 2021, RTCA Program Management Committee established a new special committee, SC-242, to take a broader look at potential frequency spectrum conflicts, analyze the existing standards in place for avionics and then identify those areas that need to be addressed so that aviation interests can be out in front of any potential frequency conflicts early on in future technology development.
