Commercial Pilots Alarmed by Surge in GPS Spoofing Attacks Sending False Signals

Commercial pilots are increasingly raising concerns over a surge in GPS spoofing incidents, where aircraft receive bogus signals that can manipulate their navigation systems. Aviation officials and regulators report that these spoofed Global Positioning System (GPS) signals are spreading beyond conflict zones and affected more than 1,000 flights daily in August.

GPS spoofing, as explained by SkAI Data Services, involves the intentional transmission of fake signals designed to alter the perceived location of a receiver, causing navigation systems to report incorrect positions. This differs from GPS jamming, which disrupts signals to prevent receivers from determining their location at all. Spoofing tactics have long been used in conflict zones, such as the Middle East and Ukraine, to ward off drones and missiles.

However, GPS spoofing has increasingly impacted commercial aviation. According to The Wall Street Journal, these attacks began affecting large numbers of flights about a year ago. The daily number of affected flights jumped from a few dozen in February to over 1,100 by August, according to data from SkAI Data Services and Zurich University of Applied Sciences.

Christopher Behnam, a retired Boeing captain at United Airlines, frequently experienced GPS interference when flying into the Middle East. “We are trained for these things, so you stay calm and follow the procedure,” Behnam told The Wall Street Journal. However, he noted that in some cases, such attacks could be “very, very alarming.”

In response to the growing threat, airlines and aircraft manufacturers are collaborating with regulators like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to find both short-term solutions and long-term fixes. While no flights have been endangered so far, according to Florian Guillermet, executive director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the rise in incidents is concerning.

United Airlines and American Airlines have started discussing new procedures to help pilots address false GPS signals, including resetting cockpit circuit breakers when spoofing occurs. Pilots are trained to navigate safely using alternative methods when confronted with GPS interference.

The FAA has stated that it has yet to find evidence of intentional interference, though investigations are ongoing. Meanwhile, equipment standards designed to protect civilian aircraft from GPS spoofing are not expected to be issued until at least next year.

While Europe has also seen flights disrupted by GPS spoofing, Guillermet emphasizes that, for now, the primary concern is the growing frequency of occurrences, rather than immediate danger to flights.

As GPS spoofing incidents continue to rise, the aviation industry remains focused on developing strategies to safeguard flight operations and ensure the safety of air travel worldwide.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, independent.co.uk