Whilst it's out of character for me to defend the CAA, it seems necessary to do so in the light of the misinformation quoted.
I'm glad to see that the UK CAA still maintains it's hypocritical attitude to all with such arrogance.
Last year they issued a circular warning aircraft operators and pilots not to use 123.45 for air to air comms within range of UK airspace. So, even if you were outside UK airspace, these effers were trying to tell you what to do.
No they didn't. They specifically mentioned that the information was to clarify the situation regarding use of 123.450
within the UK FIR. Not within range of, not outside, but
within. It also did not tell pilots to
not use the frequency. It merely pointed out it's correct function in UK airspace, the problems it could cause if misused, and then left it to the pilot to make the correct decision (i.e. ''Attention is brought to the fact that the resulting interference from unauthorised use of this channel is potentially detremental to flight safety.'')
A few years ago the UK CAA issued a notam stating that the UK MoD were engaged in GPS jamming trials. These trials actually interfered with GPS signal reception in areas beyond the UK. So it's ok for the Brits to interfere with aircraft operations outside of the UK whilst they don't want interference from outsiders to their operations.
Nothing to do with the CAA being arrogant. GPS is, and always has been, primarily a Military system. Civil use piggy backs it through the generosity of the US Department of Defence (or Defense [sic]). Military authorities worldwide have a legitimate right to either experiment against signals, or conduct training in system degradation and jamming. It's how people train for war or build defensive systems for their own purposes. The UK is a close ally of the US, both are in NATO. Co-ordination of activities and exchange of experience is useful to both sides.
Now, if the constellation was a civil funded system with operators paying for it, you could have a whinge about it. But until the 'still looking for a purpose' Gallileo system comes along, freeloaders will just have to put up with the fact that they have no say over the availability of GPS, especially if the inconvenience is being caused by military users.