NARCAP News Archives

December 2001 - November 2000 (Palo Alto, CA)

NARCAP held its first, organizational meeting on 17 Feb 01 at the California Institute for Physics and Astrophysics. In attendance were experts in Aviation and Aeronautics, Meteorology, Air Traffic Control, Flight Instruction, Physics, Engineering, and several other disciplines. The purpose of the meeting was to set the tone for an in-depth, unbiased study of UAP and its relationship with aviation safety. NARCAP Chief Scientist,

Dr. Richard F. Haines, started the meeting with a discussion of the NARCAP background, mission and administrative organization. Dr. Haines then presented material concerning NARCAP National Technical Specialists and their role in the investigative process. Following this material came a discussion about NARCAP Foreign Technical Specialists and their role in assisting with investigations involving US aircraft and crews over other countries. Dr. Haines also stated the position that NARCAP stands ready to assist other countries in developing their own UAP/Aviation research groups.

Dr. Haines then did a very interesting presentation of the investigation of an aviation related UAP sighting using NARCAP procedures. This discussion included confidentiality, team identification and assignment, data collection, related administrative matters, report preparation and dissemination.

NARCAP Executive Director, Ted Roe, presented information regarding NARCAP operating standards. This included a discussion about protecting the confidentiality of reporters. The NARCAP reporting system is based on the confidential NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System. Ted also emphasized the need to remain unbiased and allow the data to speak for itself. It is the position of NARCAP that the definitive work regarding UAP has not been done, and that all possibilities regarding the nature and source of UAP remain open. NARCAP is expected to maintain high standards and develop a reputation for responsible, objective research.

Dr. Haines conducted an informal survey amongst the NARCAP Technical Staff regarding which atmospheric phenomena warrant further study. The results are published on this site on the "Publications" link as Technical Report #2.

Both Dr. Haines and Mr. Roe emphasized the need for NARCAP to remain unaffiliated and independent from organizations investigating "UFOs". NARCAP has no basis for conjecture regarding the true nature or source of this phenomenon. It is the NARCAP position that certain unidentified aerial phenomena have an effect on aviation safety that can be quantified. It is the intention of this organization to develop a body of data that will stand up to scientific scrutiny and serve as a basis for understanding this phenomenon.

Dr. Richard F. Haines and French Foreign Advisor Dominique Weinstein presented a preliminary report regarding electro-magnetic effects on aircraft. The website version of this presentation is titled "NARCAP Technical Report Three - A Preliminary Study of Fifty Seven Pilot Sighting reports Involving Alleged Electro-magnetic Effects on Aircraft Systems", by Dr. Richard F. Haines and Dominique Weinstein. Credentialed parties are encouraged to review this report and respond.

Brian E. Smith, Chief of NASA's Aviation Safety Program Office at Ames Research Center and meeting participant stated, "NARCAP appears to be taking a serious, objective look at all forms of unexplained aerial phenomena that may affect aviation safety. Their charter ranges from research into here-to-for unknown processes related to atmospheric physics and geophysical events. NARCAP also investigates legitimate pilot reports of objects that have unconventional appearance and flight characteristics. I find it intriguing that some of these objects have also produced inexplicable effects on avionics systems of conventional aircraft according to a number of anecdotal reports."

Submitting Papers

Narcap is aware that mainstream scientists and researchers have been quietly working on the topic of UAP for many years. We encourage open discussion regarding this subject, especially amongst the scientific community. We will post scientific papers on this website with appropriate acknowledgements, references, and appendices, if we feel they demonstrate high standards for research and are appropriate to our study. Papers concerning data related observations of UAP, observations of possibly related natural phenomena or sources, electro-magnetic observations, astronomical and meteorological observations, and other topics may be submitted for consideration. Observations or counter-points regarding our own publications are also encouraged. Submissions must be in scientific essay form, with references and appendices. All submissions should be in English and in digital format (preferably MSWord). The author will be listed with the paper; names will be withheld upon request. A contributor's Style Manual is being prepared ... and will be coming soon.

03 February 2001

New Reference Added

Probable Role of Plasma Instabilities in Anomalous High Altitude Luminosity (AHAL) Observed in Meteors and SpaceVehicle Re-entries
By Andrei Yu. OlÕkhovatov

22 December 2000

Pilot Sighting Report Form Available

A print out version of the NARCAP Pilot Sighting Report Form is now available on this website. Click here to go to it.

24 November 2000

Organization formed to study anomalous aerial
phenomena impact on aviation safety

Boulder Creek, CA National Aviation Reporting Center on Anomalous Phenomena" (NARCAP) officials announced today the formation of the only research organization in America organized to improve U.S. aviation safety related to various kinds of unidentified aerial phenomena. 

NARCAP is a non-profit, scientific organization that will provide pilots and air traffic controllers with a special telephone number, confidential reporting web site, and other means to report their sightings to qualified and sympathetic listeners.

Ted Roe, Narcap's executive director said, "Our center was developed to help enhance aviation safety by better understanding the nature and potential effects of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) upon ground and airborne systems, piloting, and cockpit/aircrew procedures."  (more)  

Read the document:
Aviation Safety in America -- A Previously Neglected Factor