Since the beginning of the large-scale attack on Ukraine, pilots from various airlines have repeatedly reported GPS disruptions in the airspace around Russia. The airline Finnair must therefore now suspend flights to Tartu, Estonia, for a month.
Finnish airline Finnair has announced that it will suspend its daily flights to Tartu, Estonia, for over a month. The reason for this is that GPS is used in the approach procedure for flights to the second largest city in the Baltic state and the disruptions to the satellite system are increasing, as is the case the airline announced. Last week, two Finnair flights had to be diverted to Helsinki after GPS problems prevented them from approaching Tartu.
“The systems on Finnair’s aircraft detect GPS interference, our pilots are aware of the problem and the aircraft have other navigation systems that can be used if the GPS system does not work,” said Finnair operations director Jari Paajanen. “Most airports use alternative approach methods, but some airports, such as Tartu, only use methods that require a GPS signal to assist.”
The flights of the only international airline that flies to the city are to be canceled without replacement until May 31st. During this period, an approach procedure is to be developed that is not based on GPS, the company says.
GPS interference is increasing
According to the company, pilots of the airline have reported disruptions in the past, particularly near the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad between Poland and Lithuania, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea and the eastern Mediterranean.
Since the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine in February 2022, GPS disruptions have generally increased, said the head of Estonian air traffic control, Ivar Värk, in early April public television station.
According to this, there are 10 to 20 reports from pilots about GPS problems every day. The head of the air traffic control of the Baltic EU and NATO country explained that the disruptions could be due to Russia’s attempts to disrupt the activity and use of Ukrainian attack drones. The GPS jamming radiates from the Leningrad Oblast in Russia to the Baltic state.