GPS disturbances in Latvian airspace recorded 1,060 times in first nine months.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) disturbances in Latvian airspace were recorded 1,060 times during the first nine months of this year, which is 2.6 times more than in the same period last year, representatives of the air traffic controller Latvijas Gaisa Satiksme (LGS) told LETA.

In September, 91 GPS disturbance incidents were recorded – 3.6 times more than in September last year, when 25 cases were registered.

Last year, a total of 820 GPS disturbance incidents were recorded, compared to 342 in 2023 and 26 in 2022.

LGS previously noted that the data compilation does not distinguish between specific airlines.

The air navigation company stated that the disruptions began around the same time as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and are apparently related to it.

The Civil Aviation Agency (CAA) earlier told LETA that it examines and analyzes reports of GPS signal disruptions in Latvian airspace. Although these disturbances affect normal civil aviation processes, they do not pose a threat to the safety of aircraft transiting to or from Latvia.

The CAA emphasized that multiple systems are used to ensure flight safety, so GPS interference does not compromise it. Every case of GPS disruption is centrally collected and analyzed by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

LGS is a state-owned company, fully owned by the Latvian government, and is responsible for providing air navigation services to users of Latvian airspace.

The CAA’s mission is to implement national policy and regulation in the field of airspace management and civil aviation in Latvia, by overseeing flight safety, aviation security, and compliance with environmental protection standards.

Source: BNS

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