[Infowarrior] - FAA to pilots: Expect 'unreliable or unavailable' GPS signals

[Richard Forno]

Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/01/20/unavailabe_gps_warning/

FAA to pilots: Expect 'unreliable or unavailable' GPS signals

Unspecified Pentagon 'tests' cited

By Dan Goodin in San Francisco

Posted in Government, 20th January 2011 21:15 GMT

The US Federal Aviation Administration is warning pilots to expect “unreliable or unavailable” signals from their global positioning gear as a result unspecified tests being carried out by the Department of Defense.

The Notice to Airmen, or NOTAM (PDF) [1] said the GPS tests will be carried out beginning Thursday and are expected to last through February 22. They will cause spotty GPS signals in a several hundred mile radius centered off the coast of Florida.

Source: FAA

“Pilots are highly recommended to report anomalies during testing to the appropriate [Air Route Traffic Control Center] to assist in the determination of the extent of GPS degradation during tests.”

During the effective period, test events will be active for 45 minutes followed by 15 minutes of off time.

It's not clear if GPS apps in smartphones and car navigation systems will be affected. We're guessing they will. Readers who know for sure are encouraged to leave a comment. ®

Links

	• https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2011/Jan/GPS_Flight_Advisory_CSFTL11-01_Rel.pdf