State Agency “Civil Aviation Agency”
“The decision of Finnair, the national airline of Finland, to postpone flights to Tartu Airport in Estonia due to GPS interference is done as a precaution, not because of a direct threat. Tartu Regional Airport operates with a GPS system, it does not have ground-based aeronautical equipment, as a result of which the airline takes preventive measures to maintain a consistently high level of safety.”
The agency states that passenger planes are equipped with several navigation systems – not only GPS. Navigation systems also include INS (inertial navigation systems), VOR (radio direction receivers) and DME (distance measuring equipment). These systems can work independently of GPS, thus providing the necessary navigation in cases where GPS signals are disturbed.
The agency also emphasizes that pilots are trained in how to act in different conditions. Including in conditions where the GPS is jammed. Air traffic control centers also make a significant contribution to ensuring safe flights. “The civil aviation system is designed to be robust and capable of maintaining operational security even in the face of such technical challenges,” the CAA said in a statement.
Maris Gorodtsov
CAA Director
“The system is not that vulnerable. The satellite navigation system is not the primary means of navigation. It is modern and the most accurate, but there are other systems on the ground and in aircraft that continue to work.”
Every case of GPS jamming is collected and analyzed by the European Aviation Safety Agency. The issued safety bulletin states that the situation is not critical. Also, recommendations have been made to the competent authorities of the Member States, air navigation service providers and aircraft operators to improve flight safety.
Content continues after commercial
Advertising
CAA states that, in addition to GPS signal systems, other means of navigation are used at Riga Airport and in the airspace of the Republic of Latvia. Including radio beacons, ranging devices and primary radars that provide alternative navigation options. This allows continued safe air traffic in the entire airspace, as well as to and from Riga Airport.
Mainly, regional airports that do not have sufficient alternative equipment can suffer from GPS interference. Thus, aircraft pilots make a decision to exclude the smallest risks to the safety of aircraft flights, for example, fly to an alternate aerodrome.
The portal “tv3.lv” already reported that the Finnish national airline “Finnair” has suspended daily flights to Tartu from Monday to May 31 in order to find a solution to GPS signal disturbances.
As the airline company informed on Monday, flights to Tartu are suspended for a month in order to search for methods for planes to land at Tartu airport safely and smoothly without a GPS signal.
“Finnair” is the only airline that provides international flights to Tartu. Flights resumed at the end of March for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic.
On Thursday and Friday, two Finnair planes returned to Finland due to GPS signal interference, as it was impossible for them to safely reach Tartu Airport.
GPS interference has increased since 2022, with Finnair pilots reporting interference, particularly in the Königsberg (Kings) exclave, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea and the eastern Mediterranean region.
Generally, GPS interference does not affect flight routes or flight safety, as pilots are well aware of this and aircraft have alternative systems that are used when the GPS signal is interrupted.
It has already been announced that the foreign ministers of the Baltic states have warned that Russia is causing GPS signal interference, which is very dangerous and can sooner or later lead to an air disaster.
The foreign ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania told the “Financial Times” newspaper that GPS signal disturbances have been observed in the Baltic countries in recent weeks. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Cahkna has announced that what is happening in the vicinity of the Tartu airport is a Russian hybrid attack.
Report an error in the article
Highlight the erroneous text and press Ctrl+Enter.
Mark the wrong text and report it!
