B737 captain reports loss of all GPS information during descent into elp and indicated that other ai...

Narrative:

During cruise descent into elp; we suddenly lost all GPS information on the navigation status FMC page. At least six other air carriers reported the same. ATC explained that military operations in the area were responsible. We never recovered GPS data but were able to continue normally as both IRS platforms were tight and FMS position keeping was steady. Checked notams and saw nothing about military exercises that could affect GPS signals. Our GPS system never returned. It was completely shut off. The only subsystem that was affected was the terrain database that stopped functioning when the GPS signal was lost. Whatever hit us and the other aircraft in the area was very powerful and serves to illustrate how vulnerable our type of GPS system is to interference. I'm sure these military exercises were classified but the department of defense (DOD) needs to be careful with whatever they were doing; especially if the weather in the area is bad. The FAA needs to consult with DOD on this matter because it affected so many aircraft at once.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 Captain reports loss of all GPS information during descent into ELP and indicated that other aircraft were affected also. ATC explained that military operations in the area were responsible.

Narrative: During cruise descent into ELP; we suddenly lost all GPS information on the NAV status FMC page. At least six other air carriers reported the same. ATC explained that military operations in the area were responsible. We never recovered GPS data but were able to continue normally as both IRS platforms were tight and FMS position keeping was steady. Checked NOTAMs and saw nothing about military exercises that could affect GPS signals. Our GPS system never returned. It was completely shut off. The only subsystem that was affected was the terrain database that stopped functioning when the GPS signal was lost. Whatever hit us and the other aircraft in the area was very powerful and serves to illustrate how vulnerable our type of GPS system is to interference. I'm sure these military exercises were classified but the Department Of Defense (DOD) needs to be careful with whatever they were doing; especially if the weather in the area is bad. The FAA needs to consult with DOD on this matter because it affected so many aircraft at once.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1043683
Time
Date	201210
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ELP.Airport
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	GPS & Other Satellite Navigation
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 213 Flight Crew Type 12000
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown

B737 captain reports loss of all GPS information during descent into elp and indicated that other aircraft were affected also. ATC explained that military operations in the area were responsible.