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]]>Airlines from India, including Air India, IndiGo, Air India Express and SpiceJet, are members of the IATA grouping.
In recent months, cases of GPS spoofing and interference have been reported at major Indian airports such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai.
Speaking during interactions in Geneva this week, IATA Director General Willie Walsh said incidents of GPS spoofing and jamming have increased sharply across the world. He stressed that the scale of the rise requires pilots to be far more alert during operations, as the issue is no longer confined to a few regions.
GPS or Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) spoofing and jamming involve attempts to disrupt or manipulate navigation systems by transmitting false or misleading signals. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) categorises GNSS spoofing as a form of International Radio Frequency Interference.
Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety and Security, noted that such incidents were initially concentrated in the Middle East and later intensified in Eastern Europe following the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He added that similar cases are now being reported in India, other parts of Asia and even regions such as Venezuela.
Data compiled by IATA shows that the GPS loss rate, measured as the number of GPS signal loss events per 1,000 flights, has risen steadily over the years. The rate stood at 31 in 2022, increased to 56 in 2024 and is projected to reach 59 in 2025. These figures are based on information from the Flight Data eXchange database, part of IATA’s Global Aviation Data Management programme.
Careen described the upward trend as notable and concerning, pointing out that the increase cannot be explained merely by higher flight volumes. He emphasised that GPS interference is becoming more frequent and poses evolving safety challenges for airlines.
According to IATA, data-driven tools such as the Flight Data eXchange are critical in helping airlines assess and mitigate safety risks. Careen also clarified that civil aviation is typically not the intended target of such interference, but often becomes an unintended bystander due to military activities around conflict zones.
He added that improved coordination, communication and resilient systems can help manage the risks. While raising awareness remains a priority, Careen said the issue would not deter him personally from flying.
Meanwhile, India’s civil aviation ministry informed the Lok Sabha this week that 1,951 cases of GPS interference affecting aircraft have been reported since November 2023. Formal reporting of such incidents began after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued an advisory circular on GNSS interference in airspace.
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]]>A statement from the Ministry of Civil Aviation explained that Air India is authorised to issue ARCs for its fleet after conducting an annual examination of maintenance documentation, the physical state of the aircraft, and compliance with regulatory airworthiness norms.
The ARC functions as an endorsement of the aircraft’s primary Certificate of Airworthiness, confirming that it continues to meet mandatory safety and maintenance standards.
After Vistara merged with Air India in 2024, the DGCA assumed responsibility for performing the first ARC renewal for all seventy former Vistara aircraft. The regulator has already issued renewed ARCs for 69 of these aircraft after verifying that the airline met the required conditions.
The remaining aircraft was grounded for an engine replacement shortly after Air India submitted its renewal request. During the downtime, the ARC lapsed, yet the aircraft was cleared to return to service once the engine work was completed.
On 26 November 2025, Air India notified the DGCA that the aircraft had operated eight commercial flights while its ARC was expired, leading the regulator to launch an immediate investigation and order the grounding of the aircraft. The Ministry confirmed that the renewal procedure for the aircraft’s ARC is currently in progress.
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A number of flights have been cancelled while many others are experiencing delays due to the drifting ash clouds.
Authorities have stated that there is no immediate threat and that all developments are being continuously assessed.
According to the ministry, seamless coordination is underway between MoCA, ATC, IMD, airlines, and international aviation bodies following the 23 November volcanic eruption in Ethiopia and the eastward spread of ash clouds.
The Airports Authority of India has issued the required NOTAM, and airlines operating affected routes have been informed in advance.
Flight operations across India continue to run largely without disruption, with only minor rerouting or altitude adjustments taken as precautionary measures.
Earlier, Air India reported the cancellation of thirteen flights, including some international services, as aircraft that passed through impacted zones undergo necessary inspections.
On Tuesday morning, the India Meteorological Department noted that the ash clouds are drifting toward China and are expected to fully clear away from Indian airspace by 7:30 pm on Tuesday.
Forecast models suggested the presence of ash influence over Gujarat, Delhi NCR, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana during the day.
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