DGCA Issues Guidelines To Handle GNSS Interference In Airspace (Image: Pixabay)

The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued circular to Indian civilian aircraft operators on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)”s interference in airspace. The circular has been released due to the increasing instances of GNSS”s spoofing and jamming reported over Middle Eastern airspace.

In a press statement released on Friday, aviation regulator informed that the circular underlines the emerging threats of GNSS jamming and spoofing, its observance on various geographical regions, and its potential impact on aircraft and ground-bases systems. The comprehensive circular provides alleviation measures and action plans for aircraft operators, pilots, Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP) and air traffic controllers. It is applicable to all aircraft operators and Air Navigation Service Provider Airport Authority of India. The circular highlights the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder in monitoring and mitigating the threat in a coordinated manners, besides “highlighting the reporting obligations as aper regulatory requirements,” a senior DGCA official said.

“It also provides for a mechanism for ANSP to establish a Threat monitoring and Analysis network in close coordination with DGCA for preventive as well as reactive threat monitoring and analysis of reports of GNSS interference to generate valuable insights with data and new developments so as to have a robust and immediate threat response,” the DGCA added.

Earlier this month, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) unveiled an updated safety bulletin to airlines suggesting that among other alleviation measures, educate their pilots about possible spoofing and jamming of satellite signals and include them in their repeated training.