News Excerpt:
In the face of 5G expansion, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is ready to make it mandatory for all airlines to replace radio altimeters (RAs) on their aircraft.
- This move is designed to facilitate the setting up 5G base stations near airports.
More about the news:
- In 2022, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) directed major telecom operators - Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea - to refrain from setting up 5G base stations operating in the 3,300-3,670MHz frequency range, also known as the C-band, within certain zones near airports.
- These zones extend 2,100 metres from both ends of the runway and 910 metres from the centreline of the runway.
- These restrictions were implemented due to potential interference between 5G emissions and airplane RAs.
About Radio Altimeter:
- A radio altimeter is an airborne electronic device capable of measuring the height of the aircraft above terrain immediately below the aircraft.
- Early radio altimeters determined altitude by measuring the time between transmission of a radio signal from the aircraft and reception of the reflected signal.
- Modern systems use other means, for example, measurement of the change of phase between the transmitted and reflected signal.
- In low visibility conditions, they bolster pilots' situational awareness, providing vital inputs for onboard systems, such as the traffic collision avoidance system.
