Industry Secures Up to $3.5 Billion Rebate Program for Radio Altimeter Replacement; Part 91/135 Deadline Is Oct. 31, 2034
Why It MattersA fleet-wide equipment mandate affecting tens of thousands of aircraft will concentrate avionics and installation demand across operators, with rebate funds limited and installation capacity likely the main bottleneck.
Business aircraft operated under Parts 91 and 135 must replace or upgrade radio altimeters by Oct. 31, 2034, while Part 121 aircraft face an Oct. 31, 2030 deadline, experts said on Oct. 20 at the 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition. The mandate affects tens of thousands of aircraft. Foreign operators flying in the U.S. under Part 129 must also comply.
A radio altimeter provides real-time, height-above-terrain altitude data that supports critical flight crew decisions and feeds key data to numerous safety-critical aircraft systems. Earlier this year, the FCC proposed allowing expanded wireless telecommunications use in the Upper C-band spectrum (3.98–4.2 GHz), which overlaps with frequencies used by radio altimeters. The agency plans to auction portions of this spectrum, potentially generating billions of dollars. NBAA Senior Vice President, Operations Heidi Williams said parallel FCC and FAA actions are culminating in the replacement deadlines. Jens Hennig, vice president operations at the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, said the auction sells off more than 100 MHz closer to current radio altimeter bandwidths, and that the specifications of an existing unit will determine whether it needs a filter, another update or a full replacement.
Industry advocacy secured an incentive program funded by the FCC auction proceeds. Garmin International staff design engineer Eddie Straub said the $3.5 billion program is a maximum amount and closes when the rebate funds are exhausted. Hector Huezo, chief operating officer of the National Air Transportation Association, said it is a rebate rather than full reimbursement, with a cap for Part 91 and 135 operators. The FCC is still determining what documentation operators must present to participate.
Panelists urged operators to begin planning now. Straub said Garmin International, one radio altimeter supplier, is ramping up production, and that he expects more delays from installation facilities than from equipment suppliers. He advised operators to ask OEMs and their altimeter supplier whether the change qualifies as a minor TSO-level change, which would require no additional showing of compliance. Huezo said Part 91 and 135 operators required to upgrade should start the process now.
