WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration urged U.S. aircraft operators Friday to exercise caution when flying over the eastern Pacific Ocean near Mexico, Central America and parts of South America, citing military activities and potential satellite navigation interference.
The advisory, issued through a series of Notices to Air Missions, or NOTAMs, warns of risks at all altitudes, including during overflights and arrival or departure phases. “Potential risks exist for aircraft at all altitudes,” the notices state, emphasizing the need for vigilance in the affected airspace.
The alerts cover specific flight information regions, including portions of the Mexico, Central American, Panama, Bogotá and Guayaquil FIRs, as well as the entirety of the Mazatlán Oceanic FIR and a section of unassigned eastern Pacific airspace. FAA officials noted reports of intermittent Global Navigation Satellite System interference in the area, which could affect aircraft systems even after leaving the zone.
Such warnings are standard procedure in regions near hostilities or military operations, the agency said. The current advisories remain in effect for 60 days.
Pilots have reported sudden drops in satellite lock, erratic autopilot behavior and delayed system recovery even after exiting the zone in affected areas.
Experts say such interference is increasingly common in geopolitically tense areas, where electronic warfare tactics are used to protect operations or disrupt adversaries. In this case, the warnings coincide with U.S. military strikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, which have escalated regional tensions.
