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Finnair announced yesterday that it’s suspending flights between Helsinki Airport (HEL) and Tartu Airport (TAY), which is the second largest city in Estonia due to GPS interference stemming from Russia. The flights are having issues upon approach and are being suspended due to safety concerns.
We're suspending our flights to Tartu from 29 April until May 31. The approach methods currently used at Tartu Airport are based on a GPS signal and GPS interference in the area affects the usability of this method. Read more: https://t.co/PjVj91o1BR pic.twitter.com/WqRaf49GPn
— Finnair (@Finnair) April 29, 2024
The flights between Finland and Estonia are only 152 miles and served with an ATR-72 turboprop aircraft. Two recent Finnair flights to Tartu had to divert back to Helsinki due to GPS interference that prevented their final approach. By pausing the route between April 29th and May 31st, Finnair and the airport hope to find a solve that does not require a GPS signal for landing.
Jari Paajanen, Finnair’s Director of Operations, said:
We apologize for the inconvenience the suspension causes to our customers. Flight safety is always our top priority, and as the approach to Tartu currently requires a GPS signal, we cannot fly there in the event of GPS interference. The systems on Finnair’s aircraft detect GPS interference, our pilots are well aware of the issue, and the aircraft have other navigation systems that can be used when the GPS system is unserviceable. Most airports use alternative approach methods, but some airports, such as Tartu, only use methods that require a GPS signal to support them. The GPS interference in Tartu forces us to suspend flights until alternative solutions have been established.”
Anthony’s Take: There has been an increase in the number of GPS jamming incidents coming from Russia. This is the first route to see a suspension, but as the war with Ukraine continues more might come into play.
(Featured Image Credit: Mohammad Saifullah.)
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