Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-22469 · Navigation
The Boeing Company Airplanes
This AD applies to all The Boeing Company 737–8, 737–9, and 737–8200 airplanes, certificated in any category.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-03- 20, which applied to all The Boeing Company Model 737-8, 737-9, and 737-8200 airplanes. AD 2022-03-20 required revising the limitations and operating procedures sections of the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to incorporate limitations prohibiting the use of certain minimum equipment list (MEL) items, and to incorporate operating procedures for calculating takeoff and landing distances, when in the presence of interference from wireless broadband operations in the 3.7-3.98 GHz frequency band (5G C-Band) as identified by Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs). Since the FAA issued AD 2022-03-20, the FAA determined that additional limitations are needed due to the continued deployment of new 5G C-Band base stations whose signals are expected to cover most of the contiguous United States at transmission frequencies between 3.7- 3.98 GHz. This AD requires revising the limitations section of the existing AFM to incorporate limitations prohibiting the use of certain MEL items, and would retain the operating procedures from AD 2022-03-20 for calculating takeoff and landing distances, due to the presence of 5G C-Band interference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
(1) For purposes of this AD, a “5G C-Band mitigated airport” (5G CMA) is an airport at which the telecommunications companies have agreed to voluntarily limit their 5G deployment at the request of the FAA, as identified by an FAA Domestic Notice.
(2) For purposes of this AD, a “radio altimeter tolerant airplane” is one for which the radio altimeter, as installed, demonstrates the tolerances specified in paragraphs (g)(2)(i) and (ii) of this AD, using a method approved by the FAA.
(i) Tolerance to radio altimeter interference, for the fundamental emissions (3.7–3.98 GHz), at or above the power spectral density (PSD) curve threshold specified in figure 1 to paragraph (g)(2)(i) of this AD.
Figure 1 to paragraph (g)(2)(i)— Fundamental Effective Isotropic PSD at Outside Interface of Aircraft Antenna
(ii) Tolerance to radio altimeter interference, for the spurious emissions (3.7–3.98 GHz), at or above the PSD curve threshold specified in figure 2 to paragraph (g)(2)(ii) of this AD.
Figure 2 to paragraph (g)(2)(ii)— Spurious Effective Isotropic PSD at Outside Interface of Aircraft Antenna
(3) For purposes of this AD, a “non-radio altimeter tolerant airplane” is one for which the radio altimeter, as installed, does not demonstrate the tolerances specified in paragraphs (g)(2)(i) and (ii) of this AD.
(4) Runway condition codes are defined in figure 3 to paragraph (g)(4) of this AD.
Figure 3 to paragraph (g)(4)— Runway Condition Codes
This paragraph restates the requirements of paragraph (h) of AD 2022–03–20.
(1) Within 2 days after January 31, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022–03–20): Revise the Limitations Section of the existing AFM to include the information specified in figure 4 to paragraph (h)(1) of this AD. This may be done by inserting a copy of figure 4 to paragraph (h)(1) of this AD into the existing AFM.
Figure 4 to paragraph (h)(1)— AFM Limitations Revisions
(2) Within 2 days after January 31, 2022 (the effective date of AD 2022–03–20): Revise the Operating Procedures Section of the existing AFM to include the information specified in figure 5 to paragraph (h)(2) of this AD. This may be done by inserting a copy of figure 5 to paragraph (h)(2) of this AD into the existing AFM.
Figure 5 to paragraph (h)(2)— AFM Operating Procedures Revision
For non-radio altimeter tolerant airplanes, do the actions specified in paragraphs (i)(1) and (2) of this AD.
(1) On or before June 30, 2023, revise the Limitations Section of the existing AFM to include the information specified in figure 6 to paragraph (i) of this AD. This may be done by inserting a copy of figure 6 to paragraph (i) of this AD into the existing AFM. Incorporating the AFM revision required by this paragraph terminates the AFM revision required by paragraph (h)(1) of this AD.
(2) Before further flight after incorporating the limitations specified in figure 6 to paragraph (i) of this AD, remove the AFM revision required by paragraph (h)(1) of this AD.
Figure 6 to paragraph (i)— AFM Revision for Non-Radio Altimeter Tolerant Airplanes
For radio altimeter tolerant airplanes, do the actions specified in paragraphs (j)(1) and (2) of this AD.
(1) On or before June 30, 2023, revise the Limitations Section of the existing AFM to include the information specified in figure 7 to paragraph (j) of this AD. This may be done by inserting a copy of figure 7 to paragraph (j) of this AD into the existing AFM. Incorporating the AFM revision required by this paragraph terminates the AFM revision required by paragraph (h)(1) of this AD.
(2) Before further flight after incorporating the limitations specified in figure 7 to paragraph (j) of this AD, remove the AFM revision required by paragraph (h)(1) of this AD.
Figure 7 to paragraph (j)— AFM Revision for Radio Altimeter Tolerant Airplanes
The aircraft, engines and makers this AD names, by the model designations in its text. A model listed here may still be outside the AD's serial ranges.
