Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the IFATSEA General Assembly in Cyprus, where I moderated a panel discussion on training. Besides the conference activities, I took the opportunity to jog along the picturesque beach of the island. I typically use a tracking app, which includes a voice coach feature that updates me on my running pace—usually quite leisurely. However, this time, my pace was abnormally slow, even slower than walking.
Surprisingly, according to the GPS-based app, I spent my entire running session in Beirut, specifically near the runway threshold at the airport. I later discussed this anomaly with other participants, confirming that the issue was not with my phone alone. Over the following days, I noticed sporadic jumps in my GPS location to Beirut.
The implications of such extensive GPS spoofing operations extend far beyond inconvenience for joggers. The impacts on aviation are significant, affecting both en-route navigation and approaches. For instance, Finnair recently had to cancel flights between Helsinki and Tartu due to intentional GPS interference. Notably, while the airport employs an ILS approach, both the segments leading to the final approach and the go-around rely solely on GPS.
Aireon has recently released a whitepaper summarising their observations on GPS spoofing and other interferences in the Baltic region. The paper highlights the growing importance and vulnerability of GPS-only systems, particularly in these tumultuous times. You can read the full report here: Aireon's Whitepaper on GPS Interference and Spoofing in the Baltics.
In more uplifting news, be sure to read our report on CHarlie, an AI-based Air Traffic Control Operator (ATCO) assistant. This innovative tool offers a glimpse into the future, where AI and ATCOs could work collaboratively rather than in opposition. Discover more about Charlie here: Meet CHarlie: The AI-Based ATC Assistant.