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UPDATE: FAA Schedules 5 Additional GPS Interference Testing Blocks

Pilot adjusting GPS on instrument panel of Cessna 421 - FAA Schedules 2017 GPS Interference Testing advisories

7-18-17 – The GPS Interference Testing may lead to unreliable or unavailable GPS signals in the designated area during the testing.

The FAA has posted five more flight advisories for July 2017 GPS Interference Testing in the following areas, between the following dates:

  • Yuma, AZ area – between July 17 – July 28, 2017
  • Bremerton, WA area – between July 17 – August 19, 2017
  • Fort Polk, LA area – July 19, 2017
  • Alamogordo NM area #1 – July 19 – 31, 2017
  • Alamogordo NM area #2 – July 21 – August 6, 2017

The testing will be happening during the time periods and around the areas specified below. During the time that the testing is taking place, the FAA has said pilots may receive either an unreliable GPS signal or no GPS signal at all. And as with their past advisories, the FAA says that pilots should report anomalies “only when ATC assistance is required.

Yuma, AZ Area – July 2017 GPS Interference Testing Advisory

Where’s the testing area?

The location is centered at 325413N1135609W or the BZA VOR 064 degree radial at 35NM.

What times and dates will the testing take place?

  • July 17th – 18th, 2017 – 1830Z – 2230Z
  • July 19th, 2017 – 1830Z – 2100Z
  • July 25th – 26th, 2017 – 1830Z – 2100Z
  • July 28th, 2017 – 1830Z – 2100Z

As they have in the past, the FAA is saying that the testing may last the entire outlined period of time.

NOTAM Information

  • NOTAM INFO: NAV (YPG GPS 17-06) GPS (INCLUDING WAAS, GBAS, AND ADS-B) MAY NOT BE AVBL WI A 307NM RADIUS CENTERED AT 325413N1135609W (BZA 064035) FL400-UNL DECREASING IN AREA WITH A DECREASE IN ALT DEFINED AS:
    • 243NM RADIUS AT FL250
    • 179NM RADIUS AT 10000FT
    • 165NM RADIUS AT 4000FT AGL
    • 119NM RADIUS AT 50FT AGL

Bremerton, WA Area – July 2017 GPS Interference Testing Advisory

Where’s the testing area?

The location is centered at 474356N1224354W or the SEA VOR 301 degree radial at 25NM.

What times and dates will the testing take place?

  • July 17th, 2017 – 1300Z – 1559Z and 1900Z – 2259Z
  • July 18th – 21st, 2017 – 0100Z – 0229Z and 0500Z – 0659Z and 1300Z – 1559Z and 1900Z – 2259Z
  • July 22nd, 2017 – 0100Z – 0229Z and 0500Z – 0659Z
  • July 24th, 2017 – 1300Z – 1559Z and 1900Z – 2259Z
  • July 25th – 27th, 2017 – 0100Z – 0229Z and 0500Z – 0659Z and 1300Z – 1559Z and 1900Z – 2259Z
  • July 28th, 2017 – 0100Z – 0229Z and 0500Z – 0659Z and 1300Z – 1459Z and 1900Z – 2229Z
  • July 29th, 2017 – 0100Z – 0229Z and 0500Z – 0659Z
  • July 31st, 2017 – 1300Z – 1459Z and 1900Z – 2229Z
  • August 1st – 2nd, 2017 – 0100Z – 0229Z and 0500Z – 0659Z and 1300Z – 1459Z and 1900Z – 2229Z
  • August 3rd, 2017 – 0100Z – 0229Z and 0500Z – 0659Z and 1300Z – 1459Z
  • August 4th, 2017 – 0100Z – 0229Z and 0500Z – 0659Z and 1300Z – 1459Z and 1900Z – 2229Z
  • August 5th, 2017 – 0100Z – 0229Z and 0500Z – 0659Z
  • August 7th, 2017 – 1300Z – 1459Z and 1900Z – 2229Z
  • August 8th – 11th, 2017 – 0100Z – 0229Z and 0500Z – 0659Z and 1300Z – 1459Z and 1900Z – 2229Z
  • August 12th, 2017 – 0100Z – 0229Z and 0500Z – 0659Z
  • August 14th, 2017 – 1300Z – 1459Z and 1900Z – 2229Z
  • August 15th – 18th, 2017 – 0100Z – 0229Z and 0500Z – 0659Z and 1300Z – 1459Z and 1900Z – 2229Z
  • August 19th, 2017 – 0100Z – 0229Z and 0500Z – 0659Z

As they have in the past, the FAA is saying that the testing may last the entire outlined period of time.

NOTAM Information

  • NOTAM INFO: NAV (FFC GPS 17-05) GPS (INCLUDING WAAS, GBAS, AND ADSB) MAY NOT BE AVBL WI A 220NM RADIUS CENTERED AT 474356N1224354W (SEA 301025) FL400-UNL,
    • 174NM RADIUS AT FL250
    • 110NM RADIUS AT 10000FT
    • 90NM RADIUS AT 4000FT AGL
    • 73NM RADIUS AT 50FT AGL

Fort Polk, LA Area – July 2017 GPS Interference Testing Advisory

Where’s the testing area?

The location is centered at 310704N0930913W or the AEX VOR 255 degree radial at 35NM.

What times and dates will the testing take place?

  • July 19th, 2017 – 1400Z – 2100Z

As they have in the past, the FAA is saying that the testing may last the entire outlined period of time.

NOTAM Information

  • NOTAM INFO: NAV (FTPK GPS 17-38) GPS (INCLUDING WAAS, GBAS, AND ADS-B) MAY NOT BE AVBL WI A 19NM RADIUS CENTERED AT 310704N0930913W (AEX 255035) FL400-UNL,
    • 20NM RADIUS AT FL250
    • 20NM RADIUS AT 10000FT
    • 20NM RADIUS AT 4000FT AGL
    • 9NM RADIUS AT 50FT AGL

Alamogordo, NM Area #1 – July 2017 GPS Interference Testing Advisory

Where’s the testing area?

The location is centered at 321132N1060819W or the ELP VORTAC 010 degree radial at 24NM.

What times and dates will the testing take place?

  • July 19th, 2017 – 2100Z – 2230Z
  • July 20th – 24th, 2017 – 1830Z – 2230Z
  • July 25th – 26th, 2017 – 2100Z – 2230Z
  • July 27th, 2017 – 1830Z – 2230Z
  • July 28th, 2017 – 2100Z – 2230Z
  • July 29th – 31st, 2017 – 1830Z – 2230Z

As they have in the past, the FAA is saying that the testing may last the entire outlined period of time.

NOTAM Information

  • NOTAM INFO: NAV (WSMR GPS 17-12) GPS (INCLUDING WAAS, GBAS, AND ADS-B) MAY NOT BE AVBL WI A 254NM RADIUS CENTERED AT 321132N1060819W (ELP 010024) FL400-UNL,
    • 202NM RADIUS AT FL250
    • 122NM RADIUS AT 10000FT
    • 146NM RADIUS AT 4000FT AGL
    • 85NM RADIUS AT 50FT AGL

Alamogordo, NM Area #2 – July 2017 GPS Interference Testing Advisory

Where’s the testing area?

The location is centered at 331424N1062147W or the TCS VORTAC 085 degree radial at 46NM.

What times and dates will the testing take place?

  • July 21st – 22nd, 2017 – 0430Z – 0700Z
  • July 23rd – 25th, 2017 – 0300Z – 0700Z
  • July 29th, 2017 – 0430Z – 1330Z
  • July 30th – August 2nd, 2017 – 0300Z – 1330Z
  • August 3rd – 4th, 2017 – 0430Z – 1330Z
  • August 5th, 2017 – 0430Z – 1330Z and 1830Z – 2230Z
  • August 6th, 2017 – 0300Z – 1330Z and 1830Z – 2230Z

As they have in the past, the FAA is saying that the testing may last the entire outlined period of time.

NOTAM Information

  • NOTAM INFO: NAV (WSMR GPS 17-09) GPS (INCLUDING WAAS, GBAS, AND ADS-B) MAY NOT BE AVBL WI A 364NM RADIUS CENTERED AT 331424N1062147W (TCS 085046) FL400-UNL,
    • 313NM RADIUS AT FL250
    • 261NM RADIUS AT 10000FT
    • 261NM RADIUS AT 4000FT AGL
    • 204NM RADIUS AT 50FT AGL

Final Details

For pilots who are planning to fly in the above areas during the testing period, the FAA advises checking the NOTAMs frequently, as they can change with little or no notice. Click the following links to read the associated July 2017 GPS interference testing advisories with an area map graphic:


7-11-17 FAA Schedules Las Vegas, Idaho Falls GPS Interference Testing

The FAA has posted a pair of flight advisories for July 2017 GPS Interference Testing in the Las Vegas, NV area, and in the Idaho Falls, ID area. The Las Vegas testing is taking place during dates between July 10 – July 26, 2017, while the Idaho Falls testing is taking place during dates between July 13 – July 22, 2017. The testing will be happening during the time periods and around the areas specified below. During the time that the testing is taking place, the FAA has said pilots may receive either an unreliable GPS signal or no GPS signal at all. And as with their past advisories, the FAA says that pilots should report anomalies “only when ATC assistance is required.

Las Vegas, NV Area – July 2017 GPS Interference Testing Advisory

Where’s the testing area?

The location is centered at 361304N1150307W or the LAS VOR 021 degree radial at 10NM.

What times and dates will the testing take place?

  • July 10th – 12th, 2017 –  0700Z – 1100Z
  • July 16th – 17th, 2017 –  0700Z – 1100Z
  • July 19th, 2017 –  0700Z – 1100Z
  • July 23rd – 24th, 2017 – 0700Z – 1100Z
  • July 26th, 2017 – 0700Z – 1100Z

As they have in the past, the FAA is saying that the testing may last the entire outlined period of time.

NOTAM Information

  • NOTAM INFO: NAV (NAFB GPS 17-02) GPS (INCLUDING WAAS, GBAS, AND ADS-B) MAY NOT BE AVBL WI A 196NM RADIUS CENTERED AT 361304N1150307W (LAS 021010) FL400-UNL,
    • 148NM RADIUS AT FL250
    • 88NM RADIUS AT 10000FT
    • 76NM RADIUS AT 4000FT AGL
    • 47NM RADIUS AT 50FT AGL

Idaho Falls, ID Area – July 2017 GPS Interference Testing Advisory

Where’s the testing area?

The location is centered at 433734N1125400W or the IDA VOR 268 degree radial at 37NM.

What times and dates will the testing take place?

  • July 13th – 22nd, 2017 – 0700Z – 1300Z

As they have in the past, the FAA is saying that the testing may last the entire outlined period of time.

NOTAM Information

  • NOTAM INFO: NAV (INL GPS 17-01) GPS (INCLUDING WAAS, GBAS, AND ADSB) MAY NOT BE AVBL WI A 217NM RADIUS CENTERED AT 433734N1125400W (IDA 268037) FL400-UNL,
    • 166NM RADIUS AT FL250
    • 87NM RADIUS AT 10000FT
    • 104NM RADIUS AT 4000FT AGL
    • 72NM RADIUS AT 50FT AGL

Final Details

For pilots who are planning to fly in the above areas during the testing period, the FAA advises checking the NOTAMs frequently, as they can change with little or no notice. To read the July 2017 GPS interference testing advisory for Las Vegas, NV, with an area map graphic, click here; and for Idaho Falls, ID, click here.


Aircraft Emergency

A couple weeks ago a new client called me and told me of his recent scary experience. He had been flying his Cherokee 180 the previous day when the engine suddenly became very rough and lost significant power. He was at 13,500 MSL 50 miles west of Wendover, Nevada. A quick decision was made to turn toward the interstate and head back toward Wendover. At least over the freeway there would be places to land if he had to and help would be nearby. [Read More]


Anders Clark was introduced to aviation a few short years ago, and has developed an interest in aviation history and what the future of aviation will bring. A writer and editor, Anders enjoys researching and sharing the stories of aviation.