GPS can fail due to external jamming (intentional or illegal), internal issues like loose antenna cables or unseated units, leading to navigation difficulties and potential airspace violations.
Pilots must not over-rely on GPS; they should proactively check NOTAMs for jamming, be vigilant for system warnings (e.g., frozen symbols, dead reckoning mode), and practice terrestrial navigation.
During GPS failures, pilots should ask ATC for assistance, maintain generous clearance from controlled airspace, and file an ASRS report within 10 days for any incidents.
These pages often contain encouragement to pilots not to become so completely reliant on GPS that its loss constitutes no less than an emergency. GPS, both panel-mount and portable, can fail for external and internal reasons. Read about these GPS-failure events culled from ASRS reports. We hope this article will lead you to get some practice using terrestrial nav.
Jammed Up
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