EASA & Eurocontrol Launch Plan to Combat Rising GNSS Interference

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Eurocontrol have published a joint action plan to address the escalating threat of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference. The plan, released on March 26, 2026, aims to create a unified European framework for mitigating the risks posed by signal jamming and spoofing, which have increasingly disrupted commercial flights.

The move follows a formal request on June 6, 2025, from 13 European Union member states for immediate action against Radio Frequency Interference (RFI). The urgency is underscored by data from the IATA Global Aviation Data Management Flight Data eXchange, which revealed a 220% increase in GPS signal loss events between 2021 and 2024. This initiative seeks to standardize operational procedures for flight crews, air traffic controllers, and airlines to ensure safety and predictability in an increasingly contested electronic environment, particularly for aircraft reliant on Performance-Based Navigation (PBN).

Background and Urgency

The proliferation of GNSS jamming and spoofing, particularly around conflict zones in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, has become a primary safety concern for European aviation authorities. These intentional disruptions can cause aircraft navigation systems to lose their primary positioning data, forcing flight crews to revert to backup systems and procedures. This not only increases pilot workload but can also impact airspace capacity and flight efficiency.

Florian Guillermet, Executive Director of EASA, noted that while short-term measures like pilot awareness campaigns have been effective, a more systematic approach is required. "More comprehensive action is needed," he stated, highlighting the plan's role in creating a structured response. Similarly, Raúl Medina, Director-General of Eurocontrol, described GNSS interference as a "significant and evolving challenge," calling the action plan a "critical step in the collective response."

The plan, formally titled the "European Aviation Action Plan for Ensuring Safe Operations during GNSS Interferences," builds on previous efforts, including a joint EASA and IATA workshop in January 2024 that established a strategic framework for addressing the issue.

Stakeholder Impact

The joint action plan assigns specific responsibilities and mandates new procedures across several key aviation sectors, with the most significant impacts on frontline operations.

• Commercial Airline Flight Crews: Pilots will be required to adopt new, harmonized operational procedures and updated guidance for navigating in degraded signal environments. This includes standardized phraseology for reporting interference events to air traffic control, ensuring consistent data collection and response.
• Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs): These organizations, responsible for managing air traffic, must implement new tactical protocols to manage controller workload and maintain airspace capacity safely during GNSS outages. Enhanced coordination with military authorities is a key component to deconflict civil and military activities that may cause or be affected by RFI.
• Avionics Manufacturers: Over the long term, the plan tasks manufacturers with developing more robust and interference-resilient avionics. This will drive innovation in navigation systems that can detect, report, and mitigate the effects of spoofing and jamming, potentially integrating multiple GNSS constellations and backup inertial reference systems more seamlessly.

Context and Future Challenges

This coordinated action follows a series of earlier, more localized responses. In 2024, EASA issued Safety Information Bulletins specifically warning operators about persistent GNSS degradation in the Baltic region near Kaliningrad. These bulletins were an early acknowledgment of a regional problem that the 2026 Joint Action Plan now addresses on a systemic, pan-European level.

However, the plan's success faces underlying challenges. According to some Air Navigation Service Providers, a critical issue is the industry's growing reliance on GNSS, which has been accompanied by the decommissioning of traditional ground-based navigation aids in many regions. This reduces the availability of robust backup systems. Furthermore, aviation security analysts argue that while operational workarounds are necessary, they do not address the root cause: state-sponsored electronic warfare. From this perspective, a lasting solution requires geopolitical intervention beyond the scope of aviation regulators.

What Comes Next

The action plan outlines a phased approach with defined milestones. The first set of short-term measures is expected to be implemented between 2026 and 2027. According to EASA and Eurocontrol, this initial phase will focus on rolling out updated operational guidance for airlines and ANSPs and establishing standardized NOTAM Q codes specifically for GNSS interference. This will ensure that alerts about signal degradation are communicated clearly and consistently across the entire European network.

Mid-term goals involve enhancing training programs and improving the incident reporting and analysis framework. The long-term vision focuses on regulatory mandates for more resilient avionics on future aircraft, ensuring the next generation of air transport is better equipped to handle a degraded electronic environment.

Why This Matters

This joint action plan marks a significant shift from reactive warnings to a proactive, coordinated strategy for managing electronic interference in civil aviation. It acknowledges that GNSS jamming and spoofing are no longer isolated incidents but a persistent feature of modern airspace. For the aviation industry, this plan formalizes the need for new training, procedures, and technology to build systemic resilience. It represents a critical step in ensuring that Europe's increasingly crowded and technologically advanced airspace can operate safely in the face of new and evolving security threats.

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