Radio Interference Has Landed U.S. Airlines With an $8 Million Bill to Fix Faulty Equipment on Boeing 787s

Radio Interference Has Landed U.S. Airlines With an $8 Million Bill to Fix Faulty Equipment on Boeing 787s

Radio interference has resulted in U.S. airlines being landed with an $8 million bill to fix faulty equipment on Boeing 787 Dreamliner aeroplanes 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 aeroplanes entering airspace in the presence of CW interference.”

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

Read More

Tennessee Approves Credentials for Amateur Radio Technician License

The FCC Amateur Radio Technician Class license is now an approved industry credential in the State of Tennessee. The certification has been placed as Tier 1- Recognised and will be included on the 2026-27 Statewide Industry Credential List.

Stephanie Kelly, Director of Credentialing and Post-secondary Success, Division of Post-secondary, Workforce, CTE, and Military Readiness for the Tennessee Department of Education, said this certification will benefit students throughout the state. “Students across the state will have access to high-value, industry-recognised credentials that support strong post-secondary and workforce pathways.”

We sincerely look forward to the next steps in getting students licensed, on the air, and learning with all the benefits and applications in amateur radio
— Justin McClain, KQ4ANJ - Riverside High School Teacher

The statewide industry credential program promotes credentials for grade K-12 students through a structured process that allows for the submission of credentials for review by various agencies. The program is designed to enhance post-secondary articulation and provide students with certification, credentials, and degrees in high-skilled and high-wage industries.

630M at Dayton Hamvention

This year there will be a 630-meter forum entitled "Introduction to 630-Meter Operation," moderated by Paul Dobosz, K8PD, who has designed the Lowdown antenna and many of the products we offer for the 630-meter band.  As a result of Paul's recent article in the February 2026 issue of QST Magazine there's heightened interest in operating on the band.

The forum is tentatively scheduled for Saturday afternoon. If you are planning to be at Hamvention, we hope you will attend the forum.  Paul is looking for one or two active 630-meter operators who would be willing to share their experience on the band with the attendees.  Please let Paul know if you're planning to be at Hamvention this year and if you plan to be at the forum.  His contact info is below.

While you're at Hamvention, be sure to stop by Booth 1002 in the Maxim (Building 1) to learn about the Amateur Radio and Travelers Information Station products we offer and chat with us.

Paul Dobozs can be contacted at 8pdpaul@gmail.com

Thanks for Listener Bill Baker for forwarding this item