FAA issues GPS interference flight advisory

June 9, 2016  - By

[[Editor’s note: After this story was posted, and after the Navigate! enewsletter containing it was sent out to 27,128 subscribers, GPS World received notice that in fact the U.S. Navy  canceled plans to jam GPS signals in the vicinity of the China Lake, California, Naval Air Weapons Station. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) had raised concerns about the impact on civilian air traffic and the size of the affected area. The Navy did not reveal the cause of the cancellation, other than to say the reason was “internal.”]]

According to a June 4 Federal Aviation Administration advisory, GPS testing is scheduled several days this month that may affect GPS reception on the West Coast of the U.S. with an unreliable or unavailable GPS signal.

The time periods discussed in this advisory may be reduced or cancelled with little or no notice. Pilots are advised to check NOTAMs frequently for possible changes prior to operations in the area. NOTAMs will be published at least 24 hours in advance of any GPS tests.

GPS Interference testing this June on the West Coast of the United States.

GPS Interference testing this June on the West Coast of the United States.

Location: The location is centered at 360822N1173846W or the BTY VOR 214 degree radial at 059 NM.

Dates and times

7 JUN 16 1630Z – 2230Z
9 JUN 16 1630Z – 2230Z
21 JUN 16 1630Z – 2230Z
23 JUN 16 1630Z – 2230Z
28 JUN 16 1630Z – 2230Z
30 JUN 16 1630Z – 2230Z

Duration: Each event may last the entire requested period.

NOTAM INFO:

NAV (CHLK GPS 16-08) GPS (including WAAS, GBAS and ADS-B) may not be available within a  476 nautical mile radius centered at 360822N1173846W (BTY 214059) FL400-UNL DECREASING IN AREA WITH A DECREASE IN ALT DEFINED AS:
432NM RADIUS AT FL250
375NM RADIUS AT 10000FT
340NM RADIUS AT 4000FT AGL
253NM RADIUS AT 50FT AGL

THIS NOTAM APPLIES TO ALL AIRCRAFT RELYING ON GPS. ADDITIONALLY, DUE TO GPS INTERFERENCE IMPACTS POTENTIALLY AFFECTING EMBRAER PHENOM 300 AIRCRAFT FLIGHT STABILITY CONTROLS, FAA RECOMMENDS EMB PHENOM PILOTS AVOID THE ABOVE TESTING AREA AND CLOSELY MONITOR FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS DUE TO POTENTIAL LOSS OF GPS SIGNAL.

Affected Centers: Pilots are encouraged to report anomalies only when ATC assistance is required.

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