GPS spoofing incidents reported near Amritsar Airport

Several airlines have experienced GPS interference and spoofing near Amritsar Airport. This information was shared with Parliament on Thursday. The issues have mostly occurred between November 2023 and February 2025, especially in border areas. Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, reported 465 incidents of GPS signal manipulation during this period. These disruptions can mislead aircraft navigation systems, posing safety risks. In response, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued guidelines in November 2023, asking airlines to report these incidents promptly. The government has taken steps to manage the situation. Notices have been sent out to pilots regarding areas where GPS issues are most frequent. Airlines are also following established procedures to handle these challenges. Additionally, guidelines from international organizations like ICAO and EASA are now in place. To ensure safety, ground-based navigation systems will remain operational. This allows pilots to use alternative navigation methods if GPS signals are compromised. The Airports Authority of India is also enhancing air traffic management systems. In a related announcement, Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu said India will need about 30,000 new pilots in the next 15 to 20 years due to the growth of airlines. Currently, India has over 6,000 pilots, but as domestic airlines order more planes, the demand for skilled pilots continues to rise. The minister highlighted the importance of establishing India as a pilot training hub to meet this growing need.