Indian Regulator Issues Advisory on Planes Losing GPS Signal Over Middle East
New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s civil aviation regulator, has issued an advisory to all Indian airlines in response to reports of civilian aircraft experiencing GPS signal loss over parts of the Middle East. The DGCA is concerned about the safety hazard this poses and aims to raise awareness among airlines and provide guidance on how to address the issue.
In a circular, the DGCA acknowledges the increasing reports of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference over the Middle East airspace and calls for the development of contingency measures to combat navigation system jamming. The circular also emphasizes the need for a threat monitoring and analysis network.
The concern arises from incidents in late September when multiple commercial flights near Iran deviated from their intended routes due to GPS signal spoofing. One of the aircraft almost entered Iranian airspace without permission as a result of the spoofing. The OpsGroup, a professional aviation group, has also raised concerns about this issue.
So how does GPS signal spoofing work? The planes flying over the Middle East receive a fake GPS signal that tricks their onboard systems into believing they are flying in a different location than their actual route. This manipulation compromises the integrity of the aircraft’s navigation system.
The primary area of concern is a busy airway in Northern Iraq and Azerbaijan, particularly near Erbil. By September, there had already been 12 reported incidents, with the latest one occurring near Ankara, Turkey on November 20.
While the culprit behind these jamming and spoofing incidents has not been identified, it is suspected that military electronic warfare systems deployed in regions of tension may be responsible.
The DGCA circular is based on recommendations from a committee focused on addressing this emerging threat. It provides comprehensive mitigation measures and action plans for aircraft operators, pilots, air navigation service providers, and air traffic controllers. These measures include the development of contingency procedures in collaboration with equipment manufacturers and conducting safety risk assessments.
The circular also proposes the establishment of a threat monitoring and analysis network in coordination with the DGCA to monitor and analyze reports of GNSS interference. This network aims to generate valuable insights and respond promptly to threats.
The DGCA’s advisory serves as a crucial step in ensuring the safety of Indian airlines and passengers flying over the Middle East. It highlights the need for proactive measures to address the growing concerns of GPS signal loss and navigation system spoofing in the region.
