Pakistan’s aviation regulator asks pilots to report any disruptions in GPS signals
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued notifications
to aircraft personnel, directing them to promptly inform the air traffic
controller (ATC) of any disruptions in GPS signals following reported signal
interruptions by aircraft.
These notifications were distributed to airlines, the
Pakist
an Airline Pilots Association, IATA, and other relevant parties on
September 22 and will remain effective until December 21.
Laser
pointer incidents threatening airplanes at Karachi Airport
It had come to the attention of authorities that aircraft
were encountering disruptions in receiving GPS signals within the flight region
between Lahore and Karachi. Similar difficulties were reported in obtaining GPS
signals within the Lahore and Karachi flight information region (FIR).
The notifications highlighted that sporadic GPS signal
interruptions had been documented within a 100-nautical-mile radius of Lahore,
in the vicinity south of Lahore, and in certain sections of the Karachi FIR.
Additionally, there were grievances about the absence of GPS signals around
Rahimyar Khan airport.
"All pilots are urged to promptly report any such
signal interruptions to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) with relevant
details," the notifications emphasized.
In the event of signal interruptions, the notifications
instructed pilots to take necessary actions to ensure safe and efficient
navigation. If faced with navigational challenges, pilots were advised to
notify the ATC for assistance.
Meanwhile, the CAA assured that Pakistan's airspace is fully
equipped with state-of-the-art radar systems to provide air traffic services to
all aircraft, including those in transit, during landings, and takeoffs.
A CAA spokesperson clarified that all equipment supplied by
the CAA are ground-based. VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) serves as a
navigation aid, providing azimuth information for both high and low-altitude
routes, as well as airport approaches. Additionally, the ground-based ILS
(Instrument Landing System) offers precise runway approach guidance, aiding
pilots with vertical and horizontal alignment during landings.
GPS
failure makes the job of pilots difficult at Lahore Airport
Regarding GPS (Global Positioning System), the CAA explained
it is a utility owned by the USA, delivering positioning, navigation, and
timing (PNT) services to users. GPS relies on a constellation of satellites,
with 31 currently orbiting the Earth, offering accurate position, velocity, and
time information worldwide.
The spokesperson acknowledged that space weather events,
specifically ionospheric disturbances, might impact GNSS (Global Navigation
Satellite System) performance, potentially leading to signal loss or
degradation in timing and positioning accuracy. However, it was stressed that
such ionospheric activity is unrelated to any ground-based equipment, as confirmed
by the spokesperson.
Source: Dawn