Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150; Flight Crew Total 11000; Flight Crew Type 200
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Environment - Non Weather Related; Airspace Structure; Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
This happened to me again on my return flight. Flying at FL410 I encountered a loss of GPS signal as a result of jamming. On the ATC frequency there were numerous aircraft that were similarly affected. All aircraft had to resort to flying by heading; or an alternative means of navigation. In some cases aircraft had to descend since their AHRS require GPS signals. In my case the disruption to navigation lasted nearly an hour. This extremely frequent jamming of critical GPS navigation is a significant threat to aviation safety. This affects all aircraft and could result in critical altitude changes for aircraft that are required to descend to lower altitude when losing a GPS signal. If can aircraft has to descend to a lower altitude it can have a significant impact on its range and could result in a diversion. Most modern aircraft rely solely on GPS not only for navigation signals in cruise; but also to determine range; fuel remaining; and other critical aspects of flight. In addition this disruption also impact instrument approach procedures. Since the FAA is deprecating VORs; NDBs; and associated approaches; we are becoming dependent upon an unreliable navigation system. Imagine an aircraft on an RNAV approach in IMC and it loses the GPS signal. Not only could it not continue to descend on the approach - the pilot would have no method to execute a missed approach. This jamming has to end.
Eclipse pilot reported experiencing GPS jamming that lasted an hour.