AmateurRadio.com

Unpacking the FAA's Boeing 787 Transponder Directive

As SARC Communicator editor I read a lot of blogs, club websites and other sources of amateur radio news. This one particularly caught my eye.

The source

https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2026/03/14/ham-radio-enthusiasts-land-u-s-airlines-with-8-million-bill-to-fix-faulty-equipment-on-boeing-787s/ 

The ‘click-bait’ headline:

Ham Radio Enthusiasts Land US Airlines With 8 Million Bill To Fix Faulty Equipment On Boeing 787s

Ham radio enthusiasts could be partly responsible for landing U.S. airlines with an $8 million bill to fix faulty equipment on Boeing 787 Dreamliner airplanes after it was discovered that simple radio signals can knock out a faulty transponder on the popular widebody plane used by American, United, and Alaska Airlines.

The issue came to light after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported “multiple instances of loss of transponder for airplanes entering airspace in the presence of CW interference.”

CW interference refers to continuous-wave radio signals like Morse code, military transmitters, and even amateur ham radio signals, which could interfere with the transponder on some Boeing 787s...

When I saw this story it didn’t seem to add up. After all, Amateurs have been sending CW for a century and there has never been an allegation such as this. Although my own and other readers’ feedback has resulted in an adjustment of the original deceptive headline, the underlying story deserved  further investigation.

The actual facts

When the FAA warns of "CW interference," hams think of Morse code. Aviation engineers think of something far more dangerous—a silent, invisible wall of noise that can blind a Dreamliner to oncoming traffic.

In the world of amateur radio, "CW" is a beloved mode—the rhythmic cadence of Morse code cutting through the static, a testament to communication's simplest form. But when the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) uses the same two-letter abbreviation in an airworthiness directive, it is describing something far more insidious and utterly unrelated to the operator in the shack.

For an avionics engineer, "Continuous Wave (CW) interference" refers to a pure, unmodulated, single-frequency carrier signal that has no business being where it is. It is a rogue tone, a sustained note of radio energy that can overwhelm sensitive aircraft receivers. And according to a new Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) from the FAA, this type of interference is posing a direct threat to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner's ability to see and be seen by other aircraft.

The proposed directive, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/06/13/2025-10759/airworthiness-directives-the-boeing-company-airplanes which would affect 150 U.S.-registered 787-8, -9, and -10 aircraft, mandates a costly hardware replacement to fix a vulnerability that could, quite literally, render an aircraft invisible in busy airspace. But what exactly is this interference, and why is a simple hardware swap estimated to cost U.S. operators nearly $8 million?

The Problem: A Transponder That Won't Talk Back

At the heart of the issue is the 787's Integrated Surveillance System Processor Unit (ISSPU), a critical component that manages the aircraft's transponder. The transponder's job is to listen for interrogations from Air Traffic Control radar and other aircraft's Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS) on 1030 MHz, and reply on 1090 MHz. Note that this is far from the usual HF frequencies that Amateurs normally operate at.

According to the FAA directive (Docket No. FAA-2025-0924), multiple reports have surfaced of 787s entering airspace with active "CW interference" and suffering a specific, dangerous failure: the transponder stops meeting its Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS). Instead of correctly replying to at least 90% of interrogations, the unit becomes desensitized, failing to respond.

This is not a gradual degradation. It is an "unannunciated" loss, meaning the pilots receive no warning light, no aural alert, no indication that their aircraft is no longer replying to ground radar or TCAS inquiries. The first sign of trouble could be a gap in the sky where an airliner used to be, visible to everyone except the pilots of the aircraft that just went silent.

"CW" for the Layman: Not Morse Code, But a Wall of Noise

This is where clarification for the broader technical community is essential. For the amateur radio operator, "CW" (Continuous Wave) is synonymous with Morse code—a carrier wave that is turned on and off to form characters. It is intermittent, intentional, and communicative.

The "CW interference" cited by the FAA is something else entirely. In engineering terms, a "continuous wave" simply means a steady, unmodulated carrier signal. Think of it less as a conversation and more as a sustained, single-frequency tone—a pure, unbroken note of radio energy. If a pulsed radar signal is like a strobe light, CW interference is a laser pointer held steadily on a sensor, blinding it.

For a transponder receiver trying to pick out weak interrogation pulses from the sky, a powerful CW signal on or near its operating frequency (1030 or 1090 MHz) acts as a "jammer." It raises the noise floor, drowning out the very signals it needs to hear.

The Hunt for the Source: Who Is Generating This Noise?

The FAA directive is notably silent on the source of this interference, focusing instead on fixing the aircraft's vulnerability to it. So, who or what is generating these rogue continuous wave signals? The answer is complex and points to a crowded, modern radio spectrum. While the public document does not specify frequencies, the affected systems point squarely at the 1030/1090 MHz bands. Likely culprits for high-power CW interference in or near these frequencies include:

• Ground-Based Military and Civilian Radars: Some radar systems, particularly those used for long-range surveillance or specific military applications, can produce strong continuous or quasi-continuous output that generates harmonics or spurious emissions.
  
  
• High-Power Data Links: Terrestrial microwave data links, used for point-to-point communication by telecom companies and utilities, operate in frequency bands that can, with faulty equipment, generate out-of-band emissions that bleed into the aviation surveillance bands.
  
  
• The 5G Debate, Revisited: The recent spectrum battles between aviation and 5G carriers centered on the potential for signals from powerful ground-based transmitters to cause interference with radar altimeters. While that specific fight involved different frequencies (3.7-3.98 GHz), it perfectly illustrates the principle: a powerful, continuous transmission on a nearby frequency can overwhelm aircraft receivers if filtering and shielding are insufficient.

The $7.95 Million Fix

Because the sources of interference are myriad and largely outside an airframer's control, Boeing and the FAA have chosen to harden the aircraft itself. The proposed solution is not a software tweak, but a physical replacement of the vulnerable hardware.

While then issue is a worldwide problem, the directive would require US based operators to replace the left and right ISSPU units, swapping out current part numbers (822-2120-101 and -102) with a new, presumably better-shielded or more selective unit (part number 822-2120-113) . 

The FAA estimates the parts alone will cost $52,661 per aircraft. With labor, each of the 150 affected U.S. planes will incur a $53,001 expense, bringing the total for U.S. carriers to $7,950,150 .

This is a significant investment for a problem that many in the industry suspect is not going away. As the radio spectrum grows ever more congested with diverse signals, the threat of "CW interference"—in its true engineering sense—will only increase. For the pilots of the Dreamliner, this hardware upgrade can't come soon enough. For the amateur radio operator tuning up on 40 meters, rest assured: your key is not the culprit. The real threat is coming from elsewhere in the increasingly noisy radio spectrum we all share.

73,

~John VE7TI

Hello Radio Enthusiasts!

Inside this issue:

• Historical Deep Dives: From the electrical empire of Werner von Siemens to the high-stakes drama of the Alexanderson kidnapping, and a special event station commemoration of the Titanic disaster.
• Bench Projects: Learn how to make Homebrew PCBs with a 3D printer and copper tape, or peek at the elegant KD5ZZU Z-match tuner build.
• DX & Field Ops: Travel back to the 1994 Peter I Island DXpedition or get the latest on the North Fraser Club’s 925 MHz Balloon Project.
• Radio Secrets: Unlock the hidden "superpowers" of the Icom IC-7300, 7610 and 9700 and explore the "IPS Buffet" antenna mix-and-match review.

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~ John VE7TI, Editor

Contents for this issue: 

The Communicator First Issue of 2026

Happy New Year! This first issue of 2026 spans 110 pages and offers a comprehensive exploration of amateur radio. Readers will find a diverse mix of content, including technical projects, the latest operating news, and engaging historical perspectives relevant to the amateur radio community.

Historical and Informative Features

Readers will find historical profiles of notable figures in radio, this time including Edouard Branly, inventor of the coherer, and the fateful and communications-stricken flight of Amelia Earhart. The Silent Revolution: The future of RF is in light, is an overview of transceivers using light rather than wires, promising  less noise and terrific bandwidth. You will find tutorials on a variety of relevant subjects including HF digital modes such as FT8 and JS8Call, suggestions for contest logging software, and tips for successful portable operations.

Technical Articles

Several articles in this issue delve into practical projects and technical experimentation. Topics covered include encrypted communications in amateur radio, antenna construction and tuning, including the revolutionary Challenger+, low-power (QRP) operating strategies, free access to online software-defined radio receivers, and modifications to homebrew equipment. Additional articles address emergency communications preparedness, recent regulatory changes affecting Canadian amateurs, and reviews of new ham radio products and books.

Regular Sections

The issue includes our regular informative columnists, providing valuable information for operators.  They include feature propagation forecasts, updates on satellite and digital modes, reports on VHF/UHF activity, summaries of recent contests and on-air events, and even a ‘snow muffin’ recipe for Winter Field Day.

Feature Article: Embracing Versatility in Amateur Radio

An opinion piece reflected by the cover: “Are you an Amateur Radio chameleon?” (p. 102), employs the chameleon as a metaphor for versatility in the hobby. Drawing on the Senegalese proverb, “The chameleon changes colour to match the earth, the earth doesn’t change colour to match the chameleon,” the article gently critiques operators who specialize exclusively in one aspect of amateur radio—whether chasing DX on HF, focusing on VHF repeaters, contesting year-round, or limiting activity to digital modes like FT8.

While acknowledging that specialization can foster deep expertise, the article contends that remaining in a single niche may restrict personal growth and diminish the enjoyment of amateur radio. Instead, it celebrates those who adapt fluidly, moving between CW, SSB, digital modes, satellite work, QRP portable activations, microwave experimentation, public service events, and homebrewing. These “chameleons,” the article suggests, find greater fulfillment and contribute more broadly to the amateur radio community.

It concludes with an invitation for readers to share their own stories of adaptation and discovery by emailing [email protected].

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On behalf of SARC and SEPAR, we wish all of you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.  

~ John VE7TI, Editor

Contents for this issue:

Midnight struck! The calendar flipped,

A brand-new baby boy born fully equipped. 

But this was no ordinary, cooing tyke, 

He burst out screaming... "CQ! Q-R-Z! gimme a mic!"

His parents, both veteran 2-letter hams, 

were thrilled—not only by baby, but the accurate count on his radiograms. 

His first sound was: "dah dit dah dit, dah dah dit dah", a properly spaced CQ, 

A perfect fist, spectacular for a ham just so new.

Mr. Jones, the neighbor wasn't as happy. 

Just what I need, another ham next door like his mama and pappy. 

They named him "Kenwood", a name everyone knew, 

but in phonetics, baby confused quite a few. 

They bypassed the rattle, the blanket, and ball, 

‘cause he only wanted a transceiver with a nice waterfall. 

He skipped "goo-goo" for Q-codes instead: 

"My QTH is my bedroom!" is what he often said. 

And change me often when I get wet… 

I don’t want to risk the high voltage when I’m on a QSO in bed.

One day, they found him, in a corner on the floor, 

He'd built a QRP rig they couldn’t ignore. 

He keyed up on twenty, it was truly a feat, 

Sending: "Happy New Year!!" it sounded so sweet.

The FCC called, "Is that your harmonic on the air?" 

His dad just laughed, "No, sir, that’s my son you hear there. 

"He's only seven weeks old, and his signal's 5-9-9" 

The New Year's Ham Baby? He’s doing just fine!

~ The Communicator ~

Celebrating 5 Years of Holiday Spirit on the Air

Now with an AI-Powered Award System!

As the Christmas season approaches, radio amateurs across the world can once again look forward to hearing the cheerful special callsigns PH25XMAS and PH26HNY on the HF bands. These stations will be active during the Christmas holidays and the first week of January 2026, sharing goodwill and season’s greetings over the airwaves.

This year marks the first lustrum (5th anniversary) of the festive XMAS and HNY event calls. To mark the occasion, the organizing team has developed an all-new automated award platform — a creative blend of amateur radio, Python programming, and artificial intelligence. It is called SAVS (Special Award Validation System).

The system will be operational, starting the 6^th of December 2025. Until then a page is showing a count-down timer to the first date of operation and first opportunity to check the award eligibility.

A Fully Automated Award System:  SAVS

Participants who have made QSOs with PH##XMAS and/or PH##HNY stations between 2021 and 2026 can check whether they qualify for a commemorative certificate.

• The platform automatically searches remote and local ADIF logs (PH21XMAS–PH26HNY).
• Operators whose callsigns appear three or more times in the logbooks across the past four years and this year are eligible for an award.
• After entering your callsign on the Entry Page, the system validates your QSOs, displays the results, and — if qualified — instantly generates a personalized PDF certificate for download.

Behind the scenes, a Python Flask server performs the validation, integrates with QRZ.com for data verification, and generates your award PDF with just one click.

Open Source and AI-Assisted

The entire system was created with the help of AI tools and is released as a fully open-source project on GitHub: https://github.com/PA3EFR/SAVS_XMAS_HNY

Every element — from log validation to PDF generation — runs autonomously, demonstrating how classic ham radio activity can harmoniously combine with modern coding and machine learning.

Join the Celebration

So this festive season, when you hear “CQ from PH25XMAS” or “CQ from PH26HNY”, don’t hesitate to call back!

You might not only exchange warm holiday greetings, but also earn yourself a special place in the logs — and a beautiful award to commemorate it.

📡 Brought to you by Radio Scouting Fellowship PA3EFR/J

Welcome to the November-December 2025 edition of the SARC Communicator, your go-to guide for all things amateur radio in our vibrant RF neighborhood. This edition is a journey across the history, innovation, and fascinating activities of amateur radio.

As we transition from crisp fall days to the festive glow of holidays ahead, this issue looks at the enduring legacy of Émile Baudot, the pioneer of digital communication, and revisits the vital role of radio during the catastrophic 1917 Halifax Explosion. 

For satellite operators, discover how to seamlessly integrate SkyRoof with the Icom IC-9700 for LEO satellite operations, and check out our review of the past year in amateur satellites. 

Technical articles dive into RTTY as a viable emergency digital mode and explores the fascinating use of radio telemetry in insect tracking. We also have several articles on a current ‘hot’ activity, homebrew vertical antennas for Parks on the Air (POTA).  Finally, catch up on the excitement of the ARDF World Championship and a glimpse into the future of Software Defined Radio. 

There are articles for all levels of amateur radio and you’re sure to find something of interest.

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Dive in for inspiration, connections, and the pulse of what makes our hobby of hobbies special. A special year-end thank you to our contributors and columnists. On behalf of SARC and SEPAR, we wish all of you a safe and happy holiday season.  

Stay engaged—our readership powers us forward!

Enjoy this final issue of 2025!

~ John VE7TI, Editor

Contents for this issue:

Welcome to the November-December 2025 edition of the SARC Communicator, your go-to guide for all things amateur radio in our vibrant RF neighborhood. This edition is a journey across the history, innovation, and fascinating activities of amateur radio.

As we transition from crisp fall days to the festive glow of holidays ahead, this issue looks at the enduring legacy of Émile Baudot, the pioneer of digital communication, and revisits the vital role of radio during the catastrophic 1917 Halifax Explosion. 

For satellite operators, discover how to seamlessly integrate SkyRoof with the Icom IC-9700 for LEO satellite operations, and check out our review of the past year in amateur satellites. 

Technical articles dive into RTTY as a viable emergency digital mode and explores the fascinating use of radio telemetry in insect tracking. We also have several articles on a current ‘hot’ activity, homebrew vertical antennas for Parks on the Air (POTA).  Finally, catch up on the excitement of the ARDF World Championship and a glimpse into the future of Software Defined Radio. 

There are articles for all levels of amateur radio and you’re sure to find something of interest.

Download Full resolution

Download smaller low resolution

View as a flip page magazine

Dive in for inspiration, connections, and the pulse of what makes our hobby of hobbies special. A special year-end thank you to our contributors and columnists. On behalf of SARC and SEPAR, we wish all of you a safe and happy holiday season.  

Stay engaged—our readership powers us forward!

Enjoy this final issue of 2025!

~ John VE7TI, Editor

Contents for this issue: