DGCA Issues Circular To Airlines And AAI On Jamming, Spoofing Of GPS Over Middle East

DGCA circular provides comprehensive mitigation measures and action plans for aircraft operators, pilots, Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP) and air traffic controllers

AAI is the country's ANSP, and air traffic controllers also come under it.

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The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a circular to airlines and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on measures to deal with threats from jamming and spoofing of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) amid reports of such interference in the Middle East, the PTI said. According to the report, the circular provides comprehensive mitigation measures and action plans for aircraft operators, pilots, Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP) and air traffic controllers. This includes the development of contingency procedures in coordination with equipment manufacturers and assessing operational risk by conducting a safety risk assessment.

According to the DGCA circular, with increased reliance and dependency on GNSS, GNSS interference, including jamming and spoofing has become a real threat in airspace, and as such, active measures are required by all concerned to effectively deal with it.

AAI is the country's ANSP, and air traffic controllers also come under it. The aviation watchdog in a release on Friday said it has released an advisory circular on GNSS interference in the airspace. Generally, GNSS spoofing and jamming refers to attempts to manipulate a user's navigation system by giving false signals.

Here is the DGCA circular: View Pdf

In the wake of the reports of GNSS interference over airspace in the Middle East in the recent past, DGCA formed an internal committee on October 4. The committee took stock of the situation, sensitised operators, and started discussions with leading experts from around the world on the subject.

After taking the inputs into account, DGCA said recommendations have been included in the circular for tackling the emerging threat considering the best practices, latest developments and ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) guidance on the matter.

Besides, the circular provides 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 to have a robust and immediate threat response.

According to DGCA, the aviation industry is grappling with uncertainties due to new threats and reports of GNSS jamming and spoofing. GNSS is vital for aircraft navigation. 

The circular gives the much-needed guidance and clarity to all concerned with a practical roadmap and action plan to deal with the threat of GNSS interference in airspace in an effective manner, it added.