FreeFlight Systems and Air Dallas Instruments have entered into a strategic partnership to equip Beechcraft King Airs with FreeFlight’s 5G-tolerant RA-5500 radar altimeters. This collaboration will provide King Air operators with advanced altimeter technology, enhancing safety and reliability in congested airspace.
Danny Barnfield, president of Air Dallas Instruments, noted that the partnership enables the company to offer King Air operators the ability to upgrade older analog altimeters with modern, 5G-tolerant solutions. "This initiative underscores our unwavering commitment to advancing safety and performance in aviation technology," Barnfield said.
Radar altimeters, responsible for 55 essential functions in avionics, are vulnerable to interference from 5G signals. This concern is critical, as interference can affect pilots across various environments, not just in urban areas.
FreeFlight’s Terrain series radar altimeters use digital processing to ensure accurate altitude readings, mitigating the risks associated with 5G interference. "Our advanced radar altimeters represent a significant upgrade for King Air operators, providing peace of mind for safety and situational awareness," said Shane LaPlante, v-p of sales and marketing at FreeFlight Systems.
According to FreeFlight, the RA-5500 (part of the Terrain series) is the only 5G-tolerant radar altimeter offering a fully digital processing solution. It serves as a self-contained retrofit, providing a direct replacement for legacy analog altimeters.