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Explore critical vulnerabilities in aviation communication systems through this 23-minute DEF CON 33 conference talk that examines how voice cloning technology threatens air traffic control operations. Discover how consumer-grade devices and publicly available tools can create convincing voice replicas of air traffic controllers, potentially disrupting the trust-based communication system between pilots and controllers. Learn about the inherent weaknesses of AM radio systems used in aviation, including their low fidelity and lack of authentication mechanisms that make them susceptible to fraudulent communications. Examine trust factors within aviation's air traffic control infrastructure and identify where aircraft are most vulnerable to voice cloning attacks, particularly during critical operations like runway crossings and low-visibility conditions. Understand FCC enforcement techniques for tracking malicious actors, explore historical perspectives on alternative radio technologies, and review secondary communication systems pilots use during failures. Witness simulated attacks demonstrating how these vulnerabilities could disrupt aviation operations and evaluate existing safeguards including the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), while discussing emerging protective technologies such as stop bars and guided runway lighting systems.
