The FAA has issued a flight advisory that GPS testing in Florida may result in unreliable or unavailable GPS signals. The testing began Dec. 1 and is slated to last until Dec. 12.
According to the advisory, GPS testing will be centered off the coast of Jacksonville at 302000N/0800000W or the CRG VOR 89.9 degree radial at 78.2NM.
Each test may last up to 45 minutes, followed by 15 minutes off. More than one event may occur during requested times, the advisory notes..
During testing, the GPS signal may be unreliable or unavailable within a 300NMR centered at 302000N/0800000W or the CRG VOR 89.9 degree radial at 78.2NM at FL400 and above, decreasing in area with decrease in altitude to 255NMR at FL250, 191NMR at 10,000 FT MSL, 147NMR at 4,000 FT AGL and 73NMR at 50 FT AGL.
The advisory notes that “pilots are strongly encouraged to report anomalies during testing to the appropriate ARTCC to assist in the determination of the extent of GPS degradation during tests.”
For more information: FAA.gov
Why in the hell would they do this with a real system in an area where there is bound to be pilots and other craft (watercraft?) in the area who’s lifes depend on the validatiy of those signals. It’s simply enough to go out in the middle of Nevada (or the ocean) and do this testing without affecting systems in place. This makes absolutly no sense to me.