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By Steve Ramirez / sramirez@lcsun-news.comlcsun-news.comPosted: 05/02/2012 06:36:15 PM MDT
LAS CRUCES — There's a good chance Las Crucens affected by sonic booms could get a break in the coming weeks.
Army technology for jamming Global Positioning Systems used in aircraft will be tested Thursday and later this month at White Sands Missile Range. The Federal Aviation Administration issued an advisory Wednesday notifying pilots and aircraft owners of the tests and recommending they report any unusual occurrences with GPS hardware and software.
Missile range officials pointed out that, since the airspace above the range is always restricted to military aircraft, the tests should not affect most civilian pilots.
Arlen Ponder, Holloman Air Force Base spokesman, said the tests, which will resume May 12 through May 23, will change the training flight schedule for F-22A Raptors, though.
"It is going to affect us and cause us to push those (training) flights to the east," Ponder said. "By pushing east, we mean those flights will probably be more over the peaks, the mountains."
Gloria Potter, an East Mesa resident who has experienced several sonic booms in recent months, said the break from the disturbances is welcome.
"Those have made nervous wrecks out of my dogs and cats," Potter said. "Some of those sonic booms have been pretty dramatic — really rattling my house."
Thursday's tests are scheduled from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. The FAA's advisory said each event may begin at any time during the requested periods, and could last for the entire time
Tests will resume May 12 and continue through May 23. Testing is scheduled from 8 p.m. May 12 until 6 a.m. May 13, and from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. later the same day.
From May 14 through May 18, tests are planned from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. From May 19 through May 23, tests will be from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., and from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.
"During testing, the (aircraft) GPS signal may be unreliable or unavailable," said the FAA advisory. "Pilots are strongly encouraged to report anomalies during testing ... to assist in the determination of the extent of GPS degradation during tests."
The time periods of the tests could be reduced or canceled with little or no notice.
Lisa Blevins, WSMR spokeswoman said the tests are related to the Army's Network Integration Evaluation program, a series of semi-annual, soldier-led evaluations designed to further integrate, mature and rapidly progress the Army's tactical network. NIE is conducted at Fort Bliss and WSMR to assess potential network capabilities in an operational environment, and to determine whether they perform as needed, conform to the network architecture and can operate with existing military systems.
"It is the standard advisory that is sent out any time there is the potential to affect GPS reliability," Blevins said. "It is also sent out for Air Force tests anytime the potential exists.
"Ground vehicles are not affected. The only way that could happen is if they were to drive directly through the array. We are prohibited by (federal) law from operating in any configuration that would have an effect over any public roadway."
Steve Ramirez can be reached at (575) 541-5452. Also follow him on Twitter: @SteveRamirez6.
http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_20534412/missile-range-test-gps-jamming-technology-thursday
LAS CRUCES — There's a good chance Las Crucens affected by sonic booms could get a break in the coming weeks.
Army technology for jamming Global Positioning Systems used in aircraft will be tested Thursday and later this month at White Sands Missile Range. The Federal Aviation Administration issued an advisory Wednesday notifying pilots and aircraft owners of the tests and recommending they report any unusual occurrences with GPS hardware and software.
Missile range officials pointed out that, since the airspace above the range is always restricted to military aircraft, the tests should not affect most civilian pilots.
Arlen Ponder, Holloman Air Force Base spokesman, said the tests, which will resume May 12 through May 23, will change the training flight schedule for F-22A Raptors, though.
"It is going to affect us and cause us to push those (training) flights to the east," Ponder said. "By pushing east, we mean those flights will probably be more over the peaks, the mountains."
Gloria Potter, an East Mesa resident who has experienced several sonic booms in recent months, said the break from the disturbances is welcome.
"Those have made nervous wrecks out of my dogs and cats," Potter said. "Some of those sonic booms have been pretty dramatic — really rattling my house."
Thursday's tests are scheduled from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. The FAA's advisory said each event may begin at any time during the requested periods, and could last for the entire time
Tests will resume May 12 and continue through May 23. Testing is scheduled from 8 p.m. May 12 until 6 a.m. May 13, and from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. later the same day.
From May 14 through May 18, tests are planned from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. From May 19 through May 23, tests will be from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., and from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.
"During testing, the (aircraft) GPS signal may be unreliable or unavailable," said the FAA advisory. "Pilots are strongly encouraged to report anomalies during testing ... to assist in the determination of the extent of GPS degradation during tests."
The time periods of the tests could be reduced or canceled with little or no notice.
Lisa Blevins, WSMR spokeswoman said the tests are related to the Army's Network Integration Evaluation program, a series of semi-annual, soldier-led evaluations designed to further integrate, mature and rapidly progress the Army's tactical network. NIE is conducted at Fort Bliss and WSMR to assess potential network capabilities in an operational environment, and to determine whether they perform as needed, conform to the network architecture and can operate with existing military systems.
"It is the standard advisory that is sent out any time there is the potential to affect GPS reliability," Blevins said. "It is also sent out for Air Force tests anytime the potential exists.
"Ground vehicles are not affected. The only way that could happen is if they were to drive directly through the array. We are prohibited by (federal) law from operating in any configuration that would have an effect over any public roadway."
Steve Ramirez can be reached at (575) 541-5452. Also follow him on Twitter: @SteveRamirez6.
http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_20534412/missile-range-test-gps-jamming-technology-thursday
