GA pilot reported GPS jamming while in the vicinity of several military transports. The pilot was attempting to execute the GPS 5 to SOP; Moore County Airport; in VFR conditions when the transports were transitioning the area.

Date: 2023-12 · Aircraft: Small Aircraft · Phase: approach

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-less-severe|conflict-airborne-conflict|no-specific-anomaly-occurred-unwanted-situation

Synopsis

GA pilot reported GPS jamming while in the vicinity of several military transports. The pilot was attempting to execute the GPS 5 to SOP; Moore County Airport; in VFR conditions when the transports were transitioning the area.

Narrative

I was monitoring Fayetteville approach while self vectoring for the GPS 5 at SOP.The final for the GPS 5 is very close to the airspace surrounding Camp Mackall AAF; HFF; a military practice field. Previously I had heard Fayetteville talking with a flight of several military aircraft near FBG; Simmons AAF; attempting to establish if the flight of aircraft was on an IFR or VFR/tactical flight plan. I could only hear Fayetteville but heard Fayetteville tell the flight to 'proceed VFR' to Hoffman.After crossing SDZ VOR on a heading of about 225 and proceeding for about 8 miles I turned left to a heading of 140 planning to intercept the GPS 5 inbound to SOP.I believe the military may have been 'spoofing' GPS signals since before crossing SDZ both of my GPS receivers went offline momentarily; 'not receiving GPS data'. After turning to 140 the same thing happened. I photographed the #2 GPS. Momentarily thereafter my passenger; who is also a pilot; called 'traffic' and the military aircraft were at our 12 o'clock on a heading of about 050 matching the inbound for the SOP GPS 5 but heading for HFF from the SW. The GPS signal returned; the military aircraft showed up on ADS-B; I turned left slightly short of intercepting the GPS 5 into SOP and proceeded to SOP and landed uneventfully.FIRST since I was in the CTAF for SOP I don't know if Fayetteville Approach was still talking to the military aircraft so I don't know if they were aware of my position. SECOND the HFF airspace and the final for the GPS 5 at SOP is much too close. THIRD if the GPS signal was being 'spoofed' that shouldn't be done near a busy GA airport with substantial traffic. FORTH a flight of military aircraft has no business flying VFR near a busy GA airport. For what it's worth I checked for TFRs in NC and NOTAMs for SOP about two hours before I took off from SOP at about XA:00 EST.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.