The Naval Research Advisory Committee (NRAC) Panel was requested to undertake a rapid review of the laser threat to Navy and Marine Corps aviation to reassess the threat, the adequacy of Operational Requirements (OR) to develop means to protect against it, to review present Navy protection programs
and the Research and Development (R&D) organization, and to make recommendations for broader R&D leading to the development of protection against the emerging frequency agile threat.

There are a variety of friendly and hostile lasers currently developed by military forces in the form of laser range finders and designators. Some of the Soviet lasers may have power levels unwarranted by range finder or designator applications, but it is not known whether these are intended as anti-personnel weapons. Laser radiation has been experienced by u.s. flight crews flying reconnaissance missions. While there are several different damage mechanisms (discussed in this report), present lasers can cause eye damage at ranges up to a few miles. However, they can cause a •dazzle• effect at greater ranges (particularly at night) when illumination of a cockpit and the scattering of light results in the inability of the crew to perform its mission and can result in the loss of the aircraft. The panel concluded that the laser threat is growing and whether intentionally used as anti-personnel weapons or causing damage only accidentally, lasers must be considered a growing anti-personnel threat against which protection should be provided. The naval aviators most exposed to this threat are the air-to-surface attack aircraft and the Marine aircraft and helicopter crews supporting ground combat.

The document below was listed as classified on the Navy’s website, so in July of 2017, I filed a Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) request to get it declassified, and in September of 2017, the record was released.

Document Archive

 Report of the Naval Research Advisory Committee Panel on Laser Eye Protection, April 1988 [84 Pages, 12.4MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/navy/LaserEyeProtection-April1988.pdf

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This study was tasked with the purpose of conducting a thorough literature and program search to carry out and document a technical assessment of the latest concepts in science and engineering that show promise of leading to a major advance in Earth-to-orbit (ETO) propulsion.

The study also reviewed and evaluated a select number of credible far-term breakthrough propulsion physics concepts pertaining to R&D work done on or related to gravity/inertia modification, spacetime metric modification, and the extraction of energy from the space vacuum environment. The results of the study are presented and summarized in this report. A combined bibliography of advanced propulsion references was assembled and is presented. The report includes an overview of the recent history and present state-of-the-art of ETO launch vehicle and propulsion concepts.

Also included is an outline and summary of the criteria and operative guidelines that the author used to examine, select and recommend advanced propulsion concepts. The author identified and selected five promising advanced propulsion concepts, and provides a detailed technical evaluation of their breakthrough potential for ETO propulsion.

The Advanced Propulsion Study is divided into two phases. Phase I is a review and documentation of the latest concepts in science and engineering that show promise of leading to a major advance in propulsion, especially Earth-to-Orbit (ETO) propulsion. This phase also included a study of all the concepts pertaining to R&D work done on or related to gravity/inertia modification, spacetime metric modification (i.e., traversable wormholes, space warps, polarizable vacuum representation of general relativity, etc.), and the extraction of energy from the space vacuum environment. At the completion of this phase the author recommended five promising advanced propulsion concepts for further evaluation.

The author then presented an oral review and technical summary of the recommended advanced propulsion concepts at the AFRL Propulsion Directorate at Edwards AFB, CA on January 5, 2004. Phase II involved a detailed evaluation of the concepts identified and selected in Phase I, which were deemed by the author to have the greatest breakthrough potential for ETO propulsion. Phase II collated all of the results and presents them in this final report.

The report contains four chapters. Chapter 1 is an overview of the present state-of-the-art of ETO launch vehicle and propulsion concepts. The chapter also outlines and summarizes the criteria and operative guidelines that were used by the author to examine, select and recommend advanced propulsion concepts. Chapter 2 is a review and summary of a substantial number of advanced propulsion concepts the author evaluated for the study. Chapter 3 presents the author’s five recommended advanced propulsion concepts, which includes a detailed technical evaluation of their breakthrough potential for ETO propulsion. Chapter 4 is a review and summary of a select number of far-term advanced propulsion concepts. The far-term propulsion concepts are comprised of breakthrough propulsion physics concepts that are very credible and rigorous. The report concludes with a combined list of references.

Download the Study

 Advanced Propulsion Study, February 2004 [103 Pages, 4.3MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/aviation/ADA426465.pdf

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The FAA NAS Daily Events Log, prepared each day by the Federal Aviation Administration, provides a unique window into the odd and unusual events that occur within the National Airspace System.

 

The FAA Air Traffic Organization – office of System Operations Services prepares this document daily, comprising between five and ten pages per day, a wealth of information that include reportable events such as:

 

• Lost communications with aircraft, called NORDO ¬ no radio aircraft;
  emergency beacon code 7600;
• Displaying or requesting unusual deviations from assigned routing;
• Change of destination while on an IFR flight plan – COD;
• Security Incidents ¬ terminal evacuation, bomb threats, breach of airport
  perimeter, airport closure, airport security;
• Emergencies ¬ aircraft displaying emergency beacon code 7700 or reporting an
  emergency;
• Hijack ¬ aircraft displaying emergency beacon code 7500 or reporting a
  hijack;
• Aircraft experiencing a disturbance either on the ground or in flight;
• Special Interest Flights ¬ overflights by aircraft from certain nations;
• Special Penetration Air Defense Exercise ¬ SPADE:
• VIP movements;
• Special Speed Authorizations;
• Mechanical Problems;
• Laser Incidents;
• Intrusions into the National Capitol Region Control Center ¬ NCRCC
• And so on.

 

The number of incidents each day is large.

 

The NAS Daily Events Log covers the entire nation. Events are not separated  out geographically.

Back in 2013, I began requesting these logs, and it was not until September of 2015 that my requests began being answered.

Below, you will find the available logs, thus far.

Declassified NAS Daily Logs

 January 1, 2013 – January 31, 2013 [192 Pages, 56.2MB]

The post Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) NAS Daily Event Logs first appeared on The Black Vault.

 10 Propositions Regarding Air Power [91 Pages]

 Air Mobility Plan, 2008 [138 Pages, 3.95mb] – The Air Mobility Master Plan 2008 is an effects-driven, capabilities-based fl ight plan for the future of the MAF; it is guided by the vision contained in the Commander’s Intent and charts a steady course to ensure we meet the Nation’s future air mobility needs. It serves as the Command’s long-range planning document, given a fi scally unconstrained environment and anticipated operational requirements. This Master Plan is not to be viewed as “carved in stone” but rather as the planned direction for the future of Air Mobility.

 Army Aviation Strike Force: A New Strategic Asset for the 21st Century [46 Pages]

 ATIC, The 1950s, and National Security Policy [17 Pages, 9.48mb]

 Bomber R & D Since 1945. The Role of Experience [91 Pages]

 Contract NAS1-97110 “Hyper-X Research Vehicle Production” [72 Pages]

 Crashed Aircraft Disposal Procedures [9 Pages]

  The Engine for the Fastest Aircraft In The World Is Russian [13 Pages]

 Feasibility of the Military Space Plane for Rapid Response Surveillance and Reconnaissance Satellite Constellation Deployment [84 Pages]

 FY 2000/2001 Biennial Budget Estimates, Volume 1 Operation and Maintenance, Air Force [540 Pages]

 Next-Generation Attack Fighter: Design Tradeoffs and National System Concepts [95 Pages]

 Operation Desert Storm. Evaluation of the Air War [28 Pages]

 Strategic Frontier: American Bomber Bases Overseas, 1950-1960 [301 Pages]

 Study of Methods of Range Extension of Carrier Based Jet Fighters by Carrier Based Assisting Aircraft, 1950 [34 Pages, 2.34mb]

 Tier III Minus Darkstar [8 Pages]

 USAFA Discovery: Jul-Sep 2000. Research Activity in Support of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) at the Aeronautics Research Center [8 Pages]

 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Roadmap (2000-2025) [130 Pages]

The post Misc. Aviation Documents first appeared on The Black Vault.