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On The Radar
by Ted Roe
copyright NARCAP 2010
Note: Historically, no distinction has been made between unidentified lights
that may represent poorly documented natural phenomena and alleged reports
of unidentified objects. The result is that all reports of UAP are lumped
into a common, though inaccurate, category - UFO. This was one of
the reasons that NARCAP adopted the broader term of UAP or Unidentified
Aerial Phenomena. However, many historical references use the term "UFO"
and we are faced with including them while emphasizing the more correct
term "UAP" from our modern perspective.
August 12, 2010
NEW!
A Pilot's View on Why Today's Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Cannot Explain Unidentified Aerial Phenomena
Jose Americo Medeiros
, NARCAP-Brazil, April 2010
A Brazilian pilot offers his perspective on the reasons that Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are inadequate as an explanation for UAP reports. We have placed his paper on the Technical Reports page in the Investegators Support section.
Welcome Aboard!
In further news from Brazil we welcome the latest NARCAP International Technical Specialist, Rogerio Chola, to the NARCAP team. Rogerio has been involved with NARCAP since 2001. He authored the Brazil section of Project Sphere. Rogerio understands NARCAP and our standards and we look forward to working with Rogerio and his colleagues in the future. Events continue to develop as Rogerio and his colleagues begin work on NARCAP Brazil.
Leslie Kean Releases New Book
NARCAP founding member Leslie Kean is releasing her new book "
UFOs: Generals, Pilots, and Government
Officials go on the Record
". Included is a chapter and commentary by NARCAP Chief Scientist Dr. Richard Haines. Leslie has been a member of NARCAP since 2000 and has written several articles and papers advocating for a more serious and intelligent approach to UAP studies. We wish her luck in her publishing endeavor and if you would like
NARCAP and CEFAA Collaborate on Studies
In the spirit of cooperation NARCAP has assisted CEFAA, the official research team of Chile, in several case investigations including several photoanalysis. We welcome these opportunities to assist at the international level and will continue to do so when invited.
May 21, 2010
Announcing Project Sphere
For the past year, NARCAP researchers have been responding to our call for papers regarding the subject of UAP that present as spherical objects and lights. The result is a comprehensive exploration of the topic based on our specific concerns for aviation safety.
These papers explore many facets of this profile of UAP manifestation. They offer case studies, analysis of properties and suggested courses of inquiry as well as aviation safety related observations, considerations, concerns and recommendations.
This course of study originated in conversations between Dr. Haines and myself. We were looking for a study to engage and thought that the examination of spherical UAP might be a good idea. Over the course of our conversations Dr. Haines decided to expand the study and I was fully in agreement. He sent out a call for papers and the result is a document that will serve as a foundation for an upcoming symposium and will help develop taxonomy with respect to the profile of spherical UAP.
Of particular interest are the case studies. There are numerous examples of aviation safety being compromised during encounters with spherical UAP. Transient and permenant equipment failures, injuries due to evasive control inputs by pilots, loss of separation and collision headings and near midair collisions (NMACS) are commonly reported in incidents involving spherical UAP. Regardless of the country reporting the incidents, the profile and descriptions are consistent. Of particular interest is the problem of radar detection of UAP in general and Spherical UAP in particular. Most of the papers cite some aspect of this and Martin Shough, NARCAP Research Associate, Scotland, addresses the matter directly in his contribution to the study.
In addition to the case studies there are white papers addressing other aspects of Spherical UAP including aerodynamics, radar detection, geometrical considerations, suggested courses and methods of study, etc... Of particular interest are the contributions of Dr. Richard Spalding and Dr. Massimo Teodorani.
This document is a wake up call for aviation professionals, managers, air controllers, etc... there are phenomena in the skies that are not well documented, that are not easily detected on radar and are contributing to a threat to safe aviation.
This study would not have been possible without the dedicated engagement of NARCAP researchers from around the world. They accepted the challenge, did the work and presented their materials. We couldn’t ask for more. Dr. Haines and I extend our heartfelt thanks to the NARCAP team and invite you all to be prepared because there are more developments on the horizon.
15 April 2010
We are pleased to announce the addition of several new papers to the Technical Reports section of the web site as well as the near-completion of the latest NARCAP project,
Project Sphere
. Additionally, we are seeing encouraging progress on the International stage with respect to a growing recognition of the issue of UAP and aviation safety.
We are enjoying the research contributions by NARCAP research associates. Topics include UAV documentation, UAP Photo-Analysis Cases, Database Analysis, as well other peripheral topical studies. As the web site process develops we will be featuring these papers and their authors.
30 October 2004
NARCAP Statement
on Mexican FLIR case of March 2004
During a visit to Mexico City in May of 2004, NARCAP
Chief Scientist Dr. Richard Haines, Executive Director Ted Roe and Spanish
Language Coordinator Ruben Uriarte were advised of an impending announcement
regarding an alleged aviation related UAP case that occurred near Campeche,
Mexico in March of 2004. A subsequent assessment of that case was offered
in this web page on 20July2004. NARCAP has since completed a thorough
analysis of this incident and will be posting the report on this website
at a later date. It is the opinion of NARCAP, based upon the evidence
available, that the most likely source of this alleged UAP observation
was the oil flares from the Cantrell oil fields in the Gulf of Campeche
. While we have not posted our findings yet, we are in general agreement
with the findings of Captain Alejandro Franz Navarrete whose documentation
can be found at:
NARCAP applauds Captain Franz for his attention to detail as well as
his objectivity. This case has received a great deal of attention in the
media including many premature and unfounded claims and speculations arising
from the so-called ?UFO Community?. It is reasonable to remind all of
those who are interested in Unidentified Aerial Phenomena or UAP that
NARCAP has taken the position that UAP do indeed exist and seem to represent
a threat to safe aviation. However, there is nothing to be gained by declaring
a case to be anomalous when it clearly is not. Premature comments and
declarations, unfounded speculations, a lack of understanding of the basics
of investigation and inquiry and a failure to maintain an objective image
and position have created an untenable position for many of the more vocal
elements of the ?UFO Community? who publicly invested their opinions without
a thorough analysis of the material and the conditions surrounding its
release. Surprisingly, there were as many comments and speculations that
were as unreasonable and unlikely as the declarations of some UFO adherents
that arose from the ?Scientific Community?. Comments arising from scientists
including the possibility that the observations involved falling space
junk, ball lightening,
FLIR system failures, the inevitable weather balloons and a host of equally
ridiculous speculations adequately demonstrated that some in the scientific
world are no better at managing their thinking and image than some UFO
Believers. NARCAP is unaware of more than a handful of individuals who
have actually undertaken the analysis of this material and it does not
seem likely that any "mainstream" scientist who offered public
commentary on this case actually undertook an investigation of this incident.
An analysis of this matter from the perspective of the media, science
and the UFO community would make informative reading.
6 August 2004
What is wrong with the conclusions of the U.S.AF Project Blue Book and
the U.S.AF commissioned University of Colorado (Condon) Report? Why is
it so difficult for science to examine anomalous phenomena? The following
two papers address the fundamental failures of science to address the
issue of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, UAP, and the inadequacies of the
U.S.AF Project Blue Book and the U.S.AF commissioned University of Colorado
(Condon) Report. It is important to note that niether author comes to
any conclusion regarding the source of so-called UFOs (UAP as we refer
to them) but instead addresses the weaknesses in the attempts to scientifically
examine and resolve them. It is clear that both feel that the scientific
examination of these phenomena is inadequate. It is also clear that there
are institutional issues, bias, that have inhibited a thorough examination
of the situation. In the case of the UFO Critique, by Diana Palmer Hoyt,
some very helpful observations are made with regards to the difficulties
that institutionalized science faces when confronted with anomalous phenomena.
UFO Critique: UFOs, Social Intelligence,
and the Condon Committee
Diana Palmer Hoyt, April 2000
Science
in Default: Twenty Two Years of Inadequate UFO Investigations
James
E. McDonald, Ph.D. 134th meeting of The American Society for the Advancement
of Science, December 1969 3August2004
The Aviation Community has attempted to address UAP issues
in the past........
The majority of official discussions with respect to what NARCAP calls
Unidentified Aerial Phenomena or UAP have been in regard to the concept
that some of these phenomena may represent extraterrestrial incursions
into the Earth domain. These official discussions have rarely, if ever,
engaged the topic from an aviation perspective reflecting a simple need
to know. Thus, although new natural aerial phenomena have been discovered
much later than the close of Project Blue Book in 1969, there has been
no will to revisit the issue from the simpler and more practical viewpoint
of aviation safety.
The historical arguments offered by James E. McDonald, Ph.D. and the
American Institute of Astronautics and Aeronautics reflect practical and
prudent inquiries that are as relevent today as they were in the 1960's
and early 1970's. These discussions represent the starting point of a
better and more reasonable attempt to understand the variety of UAP that
are encountered by aviation personnel.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics was
one of the voices of reason in the debate regarding UFO research during
the late 1960's and early 1970's. It is clear that the AIAA was seeking
further research into UAP encounters over the conclusions of the U.S.AF.
Project Blue Book and the U.S.AF. commissioned University of Colorado
(The Condon) Report. The position of the AIAA in these matters was conservative
and reflected a concern for the best interests of aviation and science.
This case involved an Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) aircraft
that encountered a UAP while conducting a routine mission. Please notice
that this UAP encounter was described as a bright light by the eyewitnesses
rather than an object (though it is referred to as an object due to the
ground and air radar detections) and that it presented the crew with aviation
safety related problems including control inputs to avoid a mid-air collision
and crew distraction.
Additionally, the object was detected on both ground and
air radars and so involved trace evidence and multiple witnesses. This
incident had a long duration and has never been adequately explained.
This is particularly interesting in light of the most recent report on
the Hessdalen Phenomenon (see below).
22 July 2004
New Data from Hessdalen, Norway
AstroPhysicist, Earthlights Researcher and NARCAP Research Associate
Massimo Teodorani has published a new paper in this month's Journal of
Scientific Exploration which examines one type of UAP that have been manifesting
at Hessdalen, Norway.This paper probably represents the most thorough
instrument-based examination of any suspected UAP. It is important to
note that these phenomena may be related to those UAP that manifest in
a number of specific geographic locations in the world including the United
States. Some of these phenomena seem to resemble some of the UAP reported
by pilots (see NARCAP Technical Report 4).It is also interesting to note
that the paper describes these light phenomena as having some characteristics
of a solid including a radar reflection. In some of these radar detections,
the phenomena were manifesting according to instrumentation but were not
visible to the unaided eye. This is consistent with many radar observations
of UAP that are not visible to aircrews and air traffic controllers. This
document contains new instrumental data that further demonstrates that
this UAP is an external high intensity radiating field and has electromagnetic
properties that may affect aviation systems that depend upon microprocessors.
With respect for copyright protection of this article NARCAP offers only
the abstract of this paper with the author's specific permission.
A Long-Term Scientific Survey of the Hessdalen Phenomenon
Massimo TeodoraniCNR- Instituto di Radioastronomia/Radiotelescopi di
MedicinaVia Florentina - 44406 Villafontana (BO) - Italy
Abstract - The balls of light which
appear in the Hessdalen valley in Norway are exemplary of anomalous atmospheric
luminous phenomena that occur frequently at some locations on Earth. The
recurrence of the phenomenon and the existence of an instrumented observation
station makes this area an ideal research site. The apparent correlation
of luminous phenomena with magnetic perturbations, radio emission, and
radar tracks found by Norwegian researchers, led some Italian physicists
and engineers of the EMBLA Project to reanalyze the Norwegian data. The
second step was three explorative instrumented, field-study expeditions.
The behavior of the phenomenon was monitored with optical, radio, and
radar techniques. The global picture of the phenomenon obtained so far
shows that the phenomenon's radiant power varies, reaching values up to
19kW. These changes are caused by sudden surface variations of the illuminated
area owing to the appearance of clusters of light balls that behave in
a thermally self-regulated way. Apparent characterisctics consistent with
a solid are strongly suspected from the study of distributions of radiant
power. Other anomalous characteristics include the capability to eject
smaller light balls, some unidentified frequency shift in the VLF range,
and possible deposition of metallic particles. A self-consistent definitive
theory of the phenomenon' nature and origin in all its aspects cannot
be constructed yet quantitatively, but some of the observations can be
explained by an electrochemical model for the ball-lightning phenomenon.
The importance is stressed of using more sophisticated instrumentation
in the future.
-from The Journal of Scientific Exploration, July 2004
20 July 2004
Re: Campeche, Mexico Case of March 5, 2004
NARCAP has recieved several inquiries regarding the March
5, 2004 case involving alleged observations of unidentified aerial phenomena
by a Mexican Air Force C-26 Merlin during a routine smuggler interdiction
flight. Though NARCAP is a national organization reflecting US aviation
safety concerns, there are several points that NARCAP can offer to the
interested public with regards to this case.
Coincidentally, NARCAP staff were meeting with Mexican and regional aviation
officials in Mexico City, MX just prior to the release of this material
and were advised of the case as well as the impending press conference.
This incident gained a lot of attention in the world press and there
was (and still is) a great deal of speculation regarding the source and
nature of the detections. Numerous news organizations and individuals
including various members of the scientific community have stated their
opinions in the public forum. In almost every case these opinions
were offered without examining the material beyond a cursory review of
very short film clips of the FLIR camera footage and without conducting
any analysis of the case and supporting evidence.
Additionally:
- The Mexican Secretary of Defense and the Mexican Government have made
no public claims regarding this incident. They have only acknowledged
that they were the source of the material.
- Niether SEDENA nor the Mexican government have released complete copies
of all the material related to this event to any researchers.
- The material that has been made available via a third party does not
contain complete and unedited copies of the Forward Looking Infrared
Radar (FLIR) film. No radar data has been provided.
- An examination of the materials that have been made available may
offer a mundane explanation however, verification of any conclusion
may depend upon the missing radar data.
- The interrupted evidentiary chain of custody combined with the incomplete
nature of the materials that have been released will severely inhibit
any objective analysis of the incident.
17 July 2004
Attention: Pilots and Aviation Professionals- The Media
are Interested in Your Comments.
One of the most common questions we encounter when the press and media
express an interest in NARCAP is, "Do you know of any pilots or aviation
professionals who are willing to discuss their experiences?" In some
cases media are willing to de-identify witnesses appearing on televised
productions. Otherwise, we are seeking individuals that are willing to
openly discuss their experiences and observations.
Pilots and aviation professionals who are willing to speak publicly about
their observations or incidents involving Unidentified Aerial Phenomena
should contact ted_roe@narcap.org
11 July 2004
Under-Reporting Bias, New Report
The topic of aviation safety related encounters with UAP
is a difficult one for aviation professionals in general and air crews
in particular. Sources of this bias can be found both inside and outside
the US aviation system and are examined in this new paper by NARCAP Executive
Director Ted Roe.
8 July 2004:
Pilots and UAP, Nothing New
Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, UAP, reports which involve aviation safety
issues are not new. In the 1960s, although the reports involved a variety
of observations involving lights and/or objects, they were collectively
referred to as "UFO" reports. Atmospheric physicist James McDonald
Ph.D. presented information regarding pilot reports, including safety
related incidents, of UAP (then called "UFO") to the House Sub-committee
on Science and Aeronautics, 1968 Symposium on UFOs.
Why Don't
Pilots See UFOs?
by James McDonald Ph.D.
Why isn't science interested in UAP?
Leslie Kean, familiar to many for her work on "Flashpoints"
for KPFA Berkeley, has taken an activist role on many social issues from
the Death Penalty to the matter of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. She
has written several articles reflecting this interest and citing NARCAP
research. Her most recent publication examines the issues surrounding
science and UAP.
28 April 2004: Mexico City
NARCAP representatives Dr. Richard Haines, Ruben Uriarte
and Ted Roe attended meetings with Mexican aviation officials to discuss
development and implementation of a Mexican UAP data collection system
to track UAP incidents in Mexican airspace. NARCAP is providing reporting
forms and advice as needed to implement a standardized collection system
that will interlock with the NARCAP program and be useful in collecting
regional data.
NARCAP encourages the many international aviation systems
to follow this example and implement data collection systems to track
these events in a standardized fashion. For more information contact Ted
Roe at ted_roe@narcap.org
Additionally, NARCAP was advised of a potential UAP case
over Campeche, Mexico on 5March2004 involving a FAM C-26 Merlin while
conducting smuggler interdiction patrols.
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