DGCA Mandates 10-Minute Reporting Window for GPS Spoofing Incidents Following Delhi Airport Anomalies

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a new mandate requiring immediate reporting of GPS spoofing or abnormal satellite navigation incidents within 10 minutes of detection.

This stringent safety directive, aimed at pilots, air traffic controllers (ATC), and technical personnel, follows several concerning reports of GPS spoofing near Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) - marking the first documented occurrences of such interference in Indian airspace.

Multiple pilots operating in the vicinity of the capital have reported navigation data discrepancies, triggering investigations by aviation and security authorities. These spoofing events caused navigation errors that forced certain flights to switch to ground-based navigation systems instead of satellite-based ones.

Officials have confirmed reports from various operators and are currently investigating whether these signal anomalies resulted from deliberate interference or technical malfunctions.

The National Security Advisor's office has initiated a comprehensive multi-agency investigation to determine the origin of these incidents and evaluate potential cybersecurity threats to aviation infrastructure.

Under the new protocol, any pilot or ATC unit that detects unusual Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) behavior - such as position discrepancies, navigation anomalies, or compromised satellite signal integrity - must submit an immediate report to the regulator's monitoring system.

According to DGCA officials, this "immediate reporting window" will enable authorities to quickly assess risks, coordinate with security agencies, and issue timely alerts to mitigate potential flight safety hazards. The primary objective is to facilitate real-time tracking and expedite responses to any interference that could compromise flight safety.

In response to these incidents, the DGCA and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) have fast-tracked upgrades to the Instrument Landing System (ILS) on the airport's primary runway, reducing reliance on satellite navigation during critical flight phases.

While GPS jamming merely blocks signals, spoofing represents a more sophisticated threat as it mimics authentic satellite data, deceiving aircraft systems into displaying incorrect position information.

The aviation regulator has begun developing a nationwide database of GNSS anomalies to identify patterns and enhance preventive measures. The DGCA is expected to release comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures and potentially update the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) guidelines in the near future.