Send was recently featured in Avionics News, highlighting our innovative solution to combat GPS spoofing in aviation.
Here’s an excerpt from the article:
At the 2024 AEA Convention in Dallas, Send announced a groundbreaking software upgrade for their Airtext+ Iridium connectivity system, currently installed on approximately 1,500 aircraft. The solution, developed by company founder David Gray, addresses the growing concern of GPS spoofing in aviation, a problem that many manufacturers have been hesitant to tackle.
The system works by monitoring multiple ARINC 429 buses and GNSS signals from its own multi constellation GNSS receiver. When spoofing is detected, it immediately alerts the pilot and sends notifications to relevant authorities, including the aircraft’s location and altitude. The Airtext+ system maintains an independent dead reckoning position and identifies the last valid location, allowing pilots to navigate until GPS service is restored.
The urgency of this solution became apparent after incidents like the one near Larnaca, Cyprus, where an Embraer Phenom 300 jet experienced severe GPS spoofing that made its position appear to be over Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport in Lebanon. The incident resulted in numerous failure messages and left only the standby compass as a working heading reference.
GPS spoofing can affect aircraft up to 200 nautical miles on either side of a transmission site, potentially requiring aircraft to fly up to 400 nautical miles to exit a spoofed area. Gray’s solution provides crucial real-time detection and alerting capabilities, filling a significant gap in aviation safety as pilots and air traffic controllers currently receive little to no training in spotting spoofing incidents.
The Airtext+ platform, priced at around $35,000 including installation, offers a cost-effective solution for aircraft ranging from Boeing 737s to Cirrus planes. Beyond anti-spoofing capabilities, it provides global connectivity through the Iridium network, enabling worldwide aircraft communication within 10 seconds at competitive rates, making it an essential tool for modern aviation safety.