Finnish airports in the east have abandoned GPS

Introduction

Airports in eastern Finland have stopped using the Global Positioning System (GPS) for navigation due to Russian interference. The move comes amid heightened tensions between Finland and Russia following the former's decision to join NATO.

Background

GPS is a satellite-based navigation system that provides location and time information to users on Earth. It is widely used in aviation, shipping, and other industries.

In recent months, Russia has been accused of interfering with GPS signals in the Baltic Sea region. This has raised concerns about the reliability of GPS for navigation in the area.

The decision

In response to the Russian interference, airports in eastern Finland have decided to stop using GPS for navigation.

The airports affected include Joensuu Airport, Kuopio Airport, and Savonlinna Airport.

The impact

The decision to stop using GPS is likely to have a significant impact on air travel in eastern Finland.

Pilots will have to rely on other navigation methods, such as inertial navigation systems (INS) and ground-based radar.

This could lead to delays and cancellations, particularly in bad weather conditions.

The future

It is unclear how long the airports in eastern Finland will continue to avoid using GPS.

The situation will likely be closely monitored by the Finnish government and aviation authorities.

If the Russian interference continues, it could lead to a permanent ban on GPS use in the region.