Think about the incredible technology that lets air traffic controllers see exactly where every plane is in the sky, helping them guide flights safely and efficiently. This relies heavily on a network of satellites orbiting Earth, constantly communicating with aircraft. But just like a bumpy road can shake a car, rough “space weather” caused by the Sun can jolt this crucial system.
Scientists have been studying a recent event on February 9th, 2024, when a powerful eruption from the Sun, known as a solar flare, sent a burst of energy towards our planet. Their research reveals that this solar outburst caused some temporary blindness and confusion in the way we track airplanes using a system called ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast).
Imagine planes constantly sending out digital “Here I am!” signals, including their location and identity, which are picked up by satellites and relayed to air traffic control and even other aircraft. This helps everyone maintain awareness of who’s flying where. However, the researchers found that during the peak of the solar flare, some of these signals experienced dropouts – temporary blackouts where the planes’ information wasn’t being received.
Worse, for some aircraft, the reported locations seemed to jump or deviate from their expected paths. It’s like the satellite system momentarily lost its precise grip on where the planes actually were. While these glitches were generally short-lived and thankfully didn’t lead to any major safety issues, they highlight a potential weakness in our air traffic management.
The scientists compared the ADS-B data with measurements of the solar activity and the state of Earth’s upper atmosphere (the ionosphere). They found a clear link between the intensity of the solar flare and the disruptions in aircraft tracking. The flare caused disturbances in the ionosphere, which can interfere with the GPS signals that ADS-B relies on to determine a plane’s location.
This study serves as an important reminder that our advanced technologies are not immune to the powerful forces of nature, even those originating millions of miles away on the Sun. The researchers suggest that we need to:
- Improve our understanding of how space weather affects these systems.
- Develop better ways to predict and monitor solar storms.
- Potentially enhance the resilience of our satellite-based tracking technology.
By understanding these vulnerabilities, we can work towards building even more robust and reliable air traffic management systems that can weather the storms of space and keep our skies safe. This research is a crucial first step in ensuring that future solar flares don’t leave air traffic controllers – and pilots – in the dark.
Reference:
Schmölter, E., Berdermann, J., Wilken, V., & Wenzel, D. (2025). Should we monitor space weather effects on surveillance technologies used in air traffic management?—First results. Space Weather, 23, e2025SW004352. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025SW004352