FreeFlight secures FAA STCs for 5G-resilient radar altimeter on Bell 407 and H125

FreeFlight Systems has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) supplemental type certificates (STCs) for installation of its RA-4500 MK II radar altimeter on the Bell 407 and Airbus H125 helicopters. The FAA also issued corresponding alternative methods of compliance (AMOCs), confirming the approved configurations meet the requirements of FAA AD 2023-11-07 for radio altimeter tolerance in the 5G C-band environment.

The approvals expand compliance options for two of the most widely operated light single-engine helicopter platforms. Radar altimeter performance remains a key focus for regulators, operators, and maintenance, repair, and overhauls (MROs), particularly as 5G deployment continues to reshape the radio frequency (RF) landscape.

The RA-4500 MK II, part of FreeFlight’s TERRAIN SERIES of 5G-resilient radar altimeters, features a modern digital design and advanced RF filtering intended to maintain reliable above ground level (AGL) radar altitude performance in RF-dense environments. This capability is particularly valuable for special mission operators, including law enforcement, air ambulance, and search and rescue, whose missions often require precise low-level flight in complex and congested RF environments.

“The 5G era has made radar altimeter performance a front-and-center operational issue for rotorcraft operators, and the RA-4500 MK II reflects that reality,” said Anthony Rios, President of FreeFlight Systems. “Its all-new digital design provides rotorcraft operators with high-integrity radar altitude performance, including low-level operations and RF-dense environments … These new STCs align with our commitment to deliver retrofit-ready avionics that enhance safety and flight efficiency, with long-term reliability as requirements continue to evolve.”

FreeFlight said it provided a complete documentation package to support installation and compliance. As FAA guidance on 5G and radar altimeter tolerance evolves, the company plans to offer existing customers a defined upgrade path to maintain compliance and operational confidence.

Air ambulance provider Global Medical Response recently acquired a new Bell ‎‎407GXi.‎