Ethical Hacking News
GPS Jamming Is Disrupting Planes Across Northeastern Norway, Leaving Pilots to Navigate Without the Aid of Technology
GPS jamming has become a persistent problem in northeastern Norway, affecting planes across the region. Russia's alleged involvement in deploying drone defense systems in Ukraine is suspected to be causing the widespread jamming of GPS signals. The lack of accurate GPS signals poses significant implications for aviation safety, requiring pilots to rely solely on visual contact or nearby ground stations. Smaller airports and even tractors have been affected by the disruption, with concerns about potential airport closures due to reliance on GPS systems. The Norwegian authorities and industry partners are collaborating on Jammerfest to experiment with countermeasures against jamming and spoofing. The crisis raises questions about national security and effective solutions for the aviation community.
In a concerning development that has left aviation experts and regulators scrambling to find solutions, GPS jamming has become a persistent problem in northeastern Norway, affecting planes across the region. The situation has grown so severe that Norwegian authorities have decided not to log instances of the interference, accepting it as the new normal.
At the heart of this crisis is Russia's alleged involvement in deploying drone defense systems in Ukraine, which some attribute to the widespread jamming of GPS signals in Norway and neighboring countries. The Norwegian Communications Authority (NKOM) has attributed the jamming to Russian sources, with senior engineer Nicolai Gerrard stating that "in Finnmark, the interference is Russian jamming of several GNSS bands [systems that help satellites and ground stations communicate], not only GPS, originating from some place on the Russian side of the border."
This alarming situation has significant implications for aviation safety. The lack of accurate GPS signals can render navigation systems useless, leaving pilots to rely solely on visual contact with the airport or nearby ground stations to navigate safely. This can lead to a prolonged and potentially hazardous flight experience.
Odd Thomassen, a captain and senior safety adviser at Norwegian airline Widerøe, describes flying without GPS as "basically [going] 30 years back in time." He notes that jamming typically lasts between six and eight minutes at a time, but warns that pilots have to adapt to this new reality almost every day.
The impact of the jamming is not limited to commercial airlines. Smaller airports and even tractors capable of operating automatically have been affected by the disruption, as evidenced by the Finnish transport agency's report in May that the problem had intensified since Ukraine began targeting Russian energy infrastructure with drones.
Aviation experts point out that GPS systems have become an essential component of air navigation, particularly for smaller, more remote airports. The reliance on these systems has led to concerns about airport closures if there are issues with GPS signals. "In Norway, you're probably looking at a lot of airports that only have GPS approaches," notes Andy Spencer, an international flight ops specialist at OpsGroup. "If there is an issue with GPS signals, these airports can become off limits."
To address this crisis, the Norwegian authorities and industry partners are collaborating on Jammerfest, an annual event held on the Norwegian island of Andøya to experiment with countermeasures against jamming and more serious GPS spoofing. However, it remains unclear whether the government will find a solution to the problem or leave it to industries that are affected.
"This is not just a technical issue; it's also a matter of national security," emphasizes Melanie Garson, a professor focused on international conflict resolution at University College London. "By not reacting, how do you enforce a deterrent effect?"
The jamming incident in April when Widerøe pilot Thomassen was forced to land without GPS has raised questions about why this case of jamming took place at such low altitudes. Although the surrounding area is indeed very flat, making it easier for signals to travel long distances, Norway's mountainous terrain would typically pose a significant obstacle to GPS signal transmission.
The incident highlights the complexities and uncertainties surrounding this crisis, leaving many in the aviation industry wondering what the future holds for navigation systems in Norway.
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the aviation community needs effective solutions to address this critical issue. Until then, pilots will be forced to navigate without the aid of technology, relying on their expertise and training to ensure safe flight operations.
Related Information:
https://www.wired.com/story/gps-jamming-is-screwing-with-norwegian-planes/
Published: Thu Oct 17 06:28:12 2024 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
