FAA Warns of Possible GPS Interference with Phenom Flight Controls

As notam warnings for potential GPS interference continue for flight operations during portions of June near the U.S. Navy’s China Lake Air Warfare Center in the western Mojave Desert, the FAA on Saturday alerted operators to a specific threat, one the agency said could affect flight-stability controls for Embraer Phenom 300 aircraft.

The agency said pilots of those aircraft should avoid the testing area and "closely monitor flight control systems due to potential loss of GPS signal." The FAA said testing would be conducted between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Pacific time on June 21, 23, 28 and 30.

In response to the FAA’s alert, aircraft builder Embraer said in a prepared statement, “Embraer clarifies that this type of event does not affect the ongoing normal operation of the Phenom 300 … Procedures for operating under these conditions are already outlined in Embraer's flight manuals. Furthermore, the GPS technology in the Phenom 300 is common to a variety of aircraft platforms … Therefore, in accordance with FAA recommendations, pilots are advised to check notams frequently for possible changes prior to operations in the designated area.”