Is the WMO Team Investigating GPS Spoofing Near Delhi Airport?
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Synopsis
A recent spike in GPS spoofing incidents around Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport raises serious safety concerns for flights approaching Runway 10. The Airports Authority of India has enlisted the Wireless Monitoring Organisation to investigate these alarming disruptions, which could pose risks to aviation safety.
Key Takeaways
- The Airports Authority of India is investigating GPS spoofing incidents near Delhi's IGI Airport.
- GPS spoofing creates false navigation signals that can mislead aircraft.
- The DGCA has mandated immediate reporting of such incidents.
- Contingency procedures are in place to ensure flight safety.
- Reports of GPS interference have come from a 60 nautical mile radius around Delhi.
New Delhi, Dec 1 (NationPress) The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has sought the assistance of the Wireless Monitoring Organisation (WMO) to potentially pinpoint the source of the GPS interference and spoofing that several flights have experienced close to the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi while approaching Runway 10, as reported to Parliament on Monday.
Responding to a query in the Lok Sabha, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated: "Certain flights reported GPS spoofing in the area surrounding IGIA, New Delhi, while utilizing GPS-based landing procedures as they approached Runway 10. Contingency measures were employed for the GPS spoofed flights approaching RWY 10, and there were no adverse effects on other flight movements at the ends of the runway that had conventional navigational aids operational."
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has released a Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) on November 10 for the immediate reporting of GPS spoofing or GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) interference incidents around IGI Airport, he added.
Last month, aircraft traversing over Delhi faced severe GPS spoofing, leading to erroneous navigation data like incorrect aircraft positions and misleading terrain warnings, which endangers flight safety, according to pilots and air traffic control officials.
Such incidents have been reported within a 60 nautical mile radius of Delhi. The disruptions often necessitated manual intervention, with air traffic controllers supplying direct navigation assistance to the cockpit teams.
The aviation regulatory authority, DGCA, has instructed airlines, pilots, and air traffic controllers to report GPS spoofing occurrences within 10 minutes of their happening.
GPS/GNSS spoofing and jamming involve attempts to manipulate a user's navigation system by emitting false signals.
The DGCA indicated that any pilot, ATC controller, or technical unit observing abnormal GPS behavior (for example, position anomalies, navigation errors, loss of GNSS signal integrity, or spoofed location data) should initiate real-time reporting within 10 minutes of the event.
Furthermore, the regulatory body emphasized that entities should specify the type of interference—whether it was jamming, spoofing, signal loss, or integrity error—as well as the aircraft equipment affected by the interference.
Point of View
The recent GPS spoofing incidents near Delhi's IGI Airport underline the critical need for robust monitoring and response mechanisms in aviation. The safety of air travel must always be prioritized, and swift action from authorities is essential to address and mitigate these risks effectively.
NationPress
01/12/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GPS spoofing?
GPS spoofing refers to the manipulation of a user's navigation system by transmitting false signals, leading to incorrect location information.
How is the DGCA responding to GPS spoofing incidents?
The DGCA has issued a Standard Operating Procedure for immediate reporting of GPS spoofing events and has instructed pilots and air traffic controllers to report incidents within 10 minutes.
What measures are in place to ensure flight safety during GPS spoofing?
Contingency procedures are utilized for flights affected by GPS spoofing, ensuring that traditional navigational aids can guide aircraft safely.
What areas are affected by GPS spoofing near Delhi?
Reports of GPS spoofing have come from within a 60 nautical mile radius of Delhi, impacting numerous flights.
What should be done if GPS anomalies are detected?
Pilots or air traffic controllers should initiate real-time reporting of any observed GPS anomalies within 10 minutes.
