Helicopter
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40; Flight Crew Total 3700; Flight Crew Type 450
Distraction; Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
General None Reported / Taken
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Aircraft; Environment - Non Weather Related
Loss of reception to both GPS receivers; Garmin 530 and 430 at the same time. Occurred at 2;000 FT MSL; 7 miles west (254 radial) from the POMONA VORTAC. Helicopter was flying eastbound straight and level; autopilot engaged and coupled to 530.
The reporter stated the there was no weather interference and known environmental influence which he was aware of at the time to cause the signal loss. He has researched this and previous GPS signal loses and does not believe they were the result of aircraft system's problems because they occur simultaneously and both GPS systems indicate no satellites available. The reporter stated that he checks the scheduled satellite outage reports as part of his preflight and several outages he has experienced occur during a time period list but for a different geographical area. He is wondering if there is an outage spillover of some type.
An Air Ambulance pilot reported that at 2;000 FT; seven miles southwest of POM; his helicopter's Garmin 530 and 430 simultaneously lost the GPS signal with both displays indicating no satellite signal for several minutes.