Aviation Under Siege: GNSS Disruptions Intensify
GNSS interference aviation: Air travel relies heavily on the invisible yet indispensable signals of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), which includes GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, and BeiDou.
These satellite constellations guide aircraft safely across skies worldwide. However, a recent joint report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has raised alarms about rapidly increasing interference with GNSS signals.
The Critical Role of GNSS in Aviation
GNSS Explained: Why It Matters
- Jamming: Overpowers real signals, causing system blackout.
- Spoofing: Sends fake signals, deceiving cockpit instruments with wrong data.
- GNSS powers precision approaches (RNP), terrain alerts, ADS‑B, airport logistics, and even drone navigation and telecom sync
- Without backup systems and threat reporting, the navigation ecosystem becomes fragile, risking future accidents.
GNSS signals underpin modern aviation safety by providing accurate positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT).
Pilots depend on GNSS for precision navigation during crucial phases of flight, especially during approaches and landings.
Ground control systems, air traffic management, automated navigation aids, and even cockpit instruments rely heavily on these satellite signals. However, this heavy dependence makes GNSS disruptions extremely critical.
Alarming Rise in GNSS Interference
Between 2021 and 2024, incidents of GPS signal loss have soared by 220%. Even more troubling, the aviation industry has seen spoofing incidents—where false GPS signals deliberately mislead aircraft—increase dramatically, up nearly 500% in the past year alone.
Regions like Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the Baltic have become hotspots for GNSS interference, highlighting geopolitical tensions as a contributing factor.
| Period | GPS Signal Loss Increase | GPS Spoofing Increase | Known Hotspots |
| 2021 → 2024 | +220% | Spoofing up 500% | Eastern Europe, Middle East, Baltic |
These disruptions pose tangible risks. For instance, Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 faced GPS signal loss just before it crash-landed in Kazakhstan on December 25, 2024. Such incidents underline the severity of this emerging threat.
Aviation Leaders Respond with Urgency
Acknowledging the escalating threat, aviation leaders emphasize immediate action.
Jesper Rasmussen, EASA’s Flight Standards Director, stressed that GNSS interference scenarios are evolving rapidly, necessitating enhanced vigilance and resilience.
Nick Careen, IATA’s SVP Operations, Safety & Security, noted the persistence of geopolitical tensions driving this dangerous trend and urged the industry to implement robust measures to safeguard aviation operations.
Building Robust Defences: The Four-Pillar Strategy
IATA and EASA have developed a comprehensive four-pillar strategy to mitigate GNSS interference risks:
Reporting and Monitoring: To effectively counter interference, accurate and timely reporting is essential.
Efforts will include standardized radio communication protocols and NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) reporting systems, alongside real-time interference detection mechanisms.
Prevention and Mitigation: Preventive measures involve tightening international controls on the sale and export of devices capable of GNSS interference.
Additionally, advanced technical solutions such as real-time spoofing detection and resilient backup systems are being actively developed.
Infrastructure and Airspace Management: To ensure uninterrupted flight operations, the aviation industry will maintain traditional ground-based navigation aids like Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), VHF Omnidirectional Ranges (VOR), and Distance Measuring Equipment (DME).
Integration of military-grade navigation systems for civilian use is also being explored.
Coordination and Preparedness: Enhanced collaboration between civil aviation and military agencies will bolster readiness against interference incidents. Drones and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) will also be integrated into broader interference mitigation strategies.
Broader Implications: Connecting Past Events and Future Risks
Recent events highlight a troubling pattern and emphasize the need for global coordination. In late 2023 and early 2024, widespread jamming affected thousands of flights across the Baltic region.
The ICAO, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and International Maritime Organization (IMO) have jointly called for global standards and regulatory frameworks to address and manage GNSS interference effectively.
Direct Impact: Pilots, Passengers, and Airlines
Pilots experiencing GNSS disruptions often receive misleading terrain warnings and inaccurate positional data, significantly increasing cockpit workload and stress.
Airlines bear the brunt of operational disruptions, resulting in delayed flights, increased fuel consumption, and operational inefficiencies.
Passengers face potential delays, extended flight durations, and even diversions, severely impacting travel reliability and convenience.
Towards Global Standards and Resilience
The industry acknowledges the pressing need for robust global standards to combat GNSS interference.
IATA and EASA have urged ICAO to fast-track the development of universally applicable guidelines, promoting a resilient aviation environment capable of handling emerging threats effectively.
The path ahead demands collaboration, innovation, and rapid adoption of advanced technologies to safeguard aviation’s essential GNSS capabilities, ensuring skies remain safe for all travelers.
Source: EASA and IATA Publish Comprehensive Plan to Mitigate the Risks of GNSS Interference
Also Read: IATA Announced Major Updates to its Key Manuals that Will Change the Future of Flying.
