Pilots again warned of GPS jamming in Norway’s border region to Russia

The warning is in effect until Jan. 31.

The Norwegian Aviation Authority is warning pilots in the airspace over Eastern Finnmark in Northern Norway of irregular conditions for satellite navigation.

The warning, published as a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) came late Wednesday morning.

It is not clear which aircraft first noticed the irregularities of the GPS signals, but SAS, Norwegian and Widerøe have aircraft landing and taking off from Kirkenes airport between 11 a.m. and noon.

SAS and Norwegian with flights directly from Oslo to Kirkenes and Widerøe with a flight from Tromsø and another from the smaller airports at the coast of Eastern Finnmark.

Also on Wednesday morning, one of Norway’s new search-and-rescue helicopters was test-flying in the airspace over Kirkenes and Eastern Finnmark.

The warning is said to last until Jan. 31.

Last November, a similar warning reported by the Barents Observer was issued. First over Norwegian airspace in the border areas to Russia’s Kola Peninsula and shortly after also over the Finnish airspace from Rovaniemi near the Arctic Circle and north to Ivalo airport.

Finnish authorities accused Russia for military jamming of the GPS signals at the time.

Public safety services, including police and search-and-rescue, are at risk when GPS signals are jammed, warned authorities in Northern Norway.

When experiencing total signal loss, both military and civilian aircraft file reports to aviation authorities. Such NOTAM warnings are obligatory for all pilots to read, including passenger planes, military aircraft or private small planes.