In a matter of concern, multiple reports surfaced of interference in the
Middle East airspace. Regarding the matter, India’s aviation regulator
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a circular for Indian civilian
aircraft operators.
Swelling number of reports have indicated that Indian airlines and
aircrafts have been facing incidences of spoofing and jamming when they fly
over parts of the Middle East.
The DGCA issued circular to airlines and the Airports Authority of India
(AAI) on steps to deal with threats from jamming and spoofing of the Global
Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).
According to DGCA, the aviation industry is grappling with uncertainties
due to upgraded threats and reports of GNSS jamming and spoofing.
The circular explained 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 jointly with
equipment manufacturers and reviewing operational risk by conducting a safety
risk assessment.
GNSS spoofing and jamming refers to bids to manipulate a user’s
navigation system by giving false signals. GNSS is vital for aircraft
navigation.
In the wake of the reports of GNSS interference over airspace in the
Middle East in the recent past, DGCA constituted an internal committee on
October 4.
The planes flying over Middle East received a spoofed GPS signal. This
signal is aimed at fooling the aircraft’s in-built system into thinking that
they are flying miles away from their intended route. The signal is often
strong enough to compromise the integrity of the aircraft’s system.
Reportedly, the busy airway in Northern Iraq and Azerbaijan reported multiple
incidents. Most were being reported near Erbil. Further, the latest one was
reported near Ankara in Turkey on November 20.
The DGCA issued circular is applicable to all Aircraft operators and Air
navigation service providers (ANSP) Airport Authority of India. The circular
provides a mechanism for ANSP to set up 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.
NE Watch Desk
