Integrating Datalink and 5G into Legacy General Aviation Aircraft – Feasibility, Challenges, and Implementation

With the increasing reliance on digital communication in aviation, the integration of datalink and 5G technology into legacy general aviation (GA) aircrafts has become a subject of growing interest. While modern commercial aircraft are designed to support high-speed data transfer, controller-pilot data link communications (CPDLC), and real-time connectivity, legacy GA aircraft are constrained by analog radios, limited avionics processing power, and non-networked communication architectures. This white paper examines the feasibility of integrating 5G and datalink connectivity into legacy GA aircraft, explores technical, regulatory, and economic challenges, and outlines viable retrofit strategies.