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Session A5: Aviation and Aeronautics

Integrating Open-Source ADS-B and GNSS Data for a Comprehensive Assessment of Recent Aviation Navigation Disruptions Over Europe
Javier Tegedor, European Commission JRC; Ciro Gioa, External consultant; Joaquim Fortuny-Guasch, Matteo Paonni, European Commission JRC
Alternate Number 2

Jamming, the intentional emission of electromagnetic waves toward a receiver, can dramatically hinder its functionality and, in the most extreme cases, entirely block Position, Velocity, and Timing (PVT) services. This poses a significant threat, as a myriad of critical applications and infrastructures, including the aviation industry, depend on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) for PVT data. Aviation is particularly susceptible to jamming, potentially leading to significant service disruptions and traffic delays.
The understanding of the specifics and overall impact of jamming and spoofing incidents on civil aviation navigation remains incomplete, despite recorded occurrences. For instance, navigational disturbances documented over Central and East Europe in December 2023 have highlighted the urgency of addressing these threats.
The Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) has proven to be a valuable asset for detecting such interference. Networks of ground-based ADS-B stations, many manned by enthusiasts, provide comprehensive real-time aviation data. The Navigation Integrity Category (NIC) parameter, derived from this data, has been effectively used for identifying GNSS interference events and attempting to trace their sources.
This paper analyzes ADS-B data over Europe, examining NIC value fluctuations across spatial and temporal dimensions. We detected an increase in NIC values below 7 during the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024 around the Baltic Sea, which may point to compromised system integrity. While detectable, these abnormalities represent a small percentage of total measurements, typically less than 5%. Various factors, including aircraft maneuvers and environmental interference, can affect NIC values. To mitigate these factors, we implemented a filtering method based on flight altitude and NIC sequence continuity to improve our analysis.
We further correlated ADS-B disruptisons with GNSS data collected on the ground by International GNSS Service (IGS) and Regional Reference Frame Sub-Commission for Europe (EUREF) stations. A novel near real-time monitoring tool was developed, utilizing RINEX observables and ephemerides to analyze the Carrier-to-Noise density ratio (C/N0). This tool marks potential interference when C/N0 anomalies surpass a specific threshold and performs separate analyses for each GNSS constellation.
In addition to our analysis of ground-based GNSS data, we assessed the PVT solutions from both single and multi-constellation systems to ensure their consistency and continuity. Our investigation revealed no major disruptions in areas marked by ADS-B anomalies, though isolated stations experienced minor events that could be attributed to interference.
Furthermore, we examined GNSS data from Copernicus Sentinel Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites to ascertain whether these disturbances were observable at LEO C/N0 levels.
The primary objective of this paper is to improve our understanding of interference events and evaluate their influence using publicly accessible data sources. By doing so, we aim to better describe these disruptions and their potential repercussions on aviation safety and operational integrity, informing future strategies for mitigation and response.
By utilizing open-source ADS-B and GNSS data, this research offers a comprehensive view of the current state of navigational interference in European airspace. It underscores the importance of continued monitoring and the development of sophisticated analytical tools to safeguard aviation against the growing challenge of signal jamming.

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