Based on the recent admission by the US Navy that it investigates encounters with Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs), more commonly referred to as Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), The Black Vault attempted to identify reporting procedures and guidelines for commercial airliners and sought comment from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). “The FAA does not track UFOs. Please contact The National UFO Reporting Center,” the FAA told The Black Vault in an email. However, what appeared to be a contradiction to that statement, is the fact that The Black Vault discovered an FAA generated database which contains numerous UFO encounters, some as recently as March of 2019.

“Reported a UFO… moving from West to East just above horizon with steady light illumination,” said one report near Washington, D.C. “Fast moving… gone within 5 minutes.”

“A320 reported while taxiing inbound to the ramp, they had seen what appeared to be a UFO on their right side,” said another report from Punta Gorda, Florida.

In addition to these, there are more than 260 references to “unidentified” objects, aircraft and helicopters throughout the reports. These UFO cases are scattered throughout an FAA generated database of sightings of Unmanned Aviation System or UAS’, a reference to a drone system consisting of a craft and a human operator on the ground. Although most of the encounters found within are identified simply as drones operating within unauthorized areas, others categorize the sighting as UFOs, which the FAA blanket denies tracking. The Black Vault reached out to the FAA to clarify.

“We receive the information you see in the sightings database from numerous sources such as the general public, law enforcement, pilots and air traffic control. Not all sightings reported are aircraft or drones,” the FAA told The Black Vault. “Many times, the reports are not descriptive enough to make a determination and could be other objects (e.g. Mylar balloons or plastic bags).”

Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) operating under FAA policy, abide by Order JO 7110.65Y. Within this document, it has an entire section on UFOs, consisting of a single page. “Persons wanting to report UFO/unexplained phenomena activity should contact a UFO/ unexplained phenomena reporting data collection center, such as the National UFO Reporting Center, etc.,” it explains. “If concern is expressed that life or property might be endangered, report the activity to the local law enforcement department.”

On average, there are more than 16,100,000 flights handled by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) every year. That’s more than 44,000 flights per day, and during peak times, more than 5,000 aircraft in the sky at one time. Each flight is carefully tracked with call signs and tagged on radar. Due to these numbers, airline safety is the top priority for the FAA, and in today’s world, commercial drones are creating quite a problem for the crowded skies.

If there really are UFOs of unknown origin traversing the sky, the question is why wouldn’t the government agency with a paramount interest in aviation safety, be concerned and investigate each case?

UPDATE April 21, 2020

After compiling the database of the FAA since the above article was written, it was discovered the FAA continues to archive “UFO” reports within their drone sightings database. To download the entire, searchable, .pdf and excel spreadsheets, you can do so here.

FAA Statements in Full

Note from The Black Vault: In order to condense the FAA statements, some information was truncated. The FULL statements are reproduced below for additional information, as the FAA submitted to The Black Vault in response to various questions.

We receive the information you see in the sightings database from numerous sources such as the general public, law enforcement, pilots and air traffic control. Not all sightings reported are aircraft or drones. Many times, the reports are not descriptive enough to make a determination and could be other objects (e.g. Mylar balloons or plastic bags).

The FAA does outreach through the Know Before You Fly (knowbeforeyoufly.org) and No Drone Zone campaigns, making drone operators and the public aware of where drones can and cannot fly. We distributed public service videos to airports nationwide to amplify our UAS safety messages. And, the FAA partnered with Kittyhawk on a new and improved B4UFLY smartphone app (http://www.faa.gov/uas/b4ufly/) which answers very basic safety questions about where it is safe and legal to fly an unmanned aircraft.

Aircraft not visibly displaying a registration number or N# should be reported to the local Flight Standards District Office. See the bottom of the page, second bullet, at: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/aae/programs_services/faa_hotlines/This link can also be accessed through our contact link at: https://www.faa.gov/contact/.

Anyone who observes a UAS being operated in a manner that interferes with manned aircraft flight, a drone operation that appears dangerous, or is being used to commit a crime should contact their local law enforcement agency. This helps the FAA and your local law enforcement discourage dangerous, illegal activity involving drones. Unauthorized drone operators may be subject to stiff fines and criminal charges, including possible jail time. You may also report drone sightings to the nearest local FAA office (http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/field_offices/fsdo/).

The post FAA Denies Tracking UFOs; Publishes Database Containing UFO Sightings first appeared on The Black Vault.

Background

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is an unpiloted aircraft. UAVs come in two varieties: some are controlled from a remote location, and others fly autonomously based on pre-programmed flight plans using more complex dynamic automation systems.

Currently, UAVs perform reconnaissance as well as attack missions. They are also used in a small but growing number of civil applications, such as firefighting. UAVs are often preferred for missions that are too “dull, dirty, or dangerous” for manned aircraft.

Declassified Documents

Defense Airborne Reconnaissance Office (DARO) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), April 1994[170 Pages, 19.2MB]

Counter UAV Optical Detection, Location, and Negation Feasibility Study, 24 March 2004 [63 Pages, 7.5MB] – The BAE Systems approach identifies the key DARPA hard technology development required in order to realize the Counter UA V mission vision. This Concept Development study developed several CONOPS and engagement scenarios that serve to define the preliminary systems requirements analysis. From this analysis, we developed several simulations to help analyze system concept approaches and performance issues. We then performed technology trades to determine the applicability and maturity of current sensor technologies to the problem. A field test was performed where actual data was collected and analyzed. Finally, directed energy countermeasures were investigated as a means to defeat these threats at standoff ranges.

The Development of a Hands-On Unmanned Aerial Vehicle/Remotely Piloted Vehicle Flight Test and Evaluation, November 2004 [9 Pages, 0.8 MB] – The United States Air Force (USAF) Test Pilot School, the Engineering Directorate, and the 452nd Flight Test Squadron all within the 412th Test Wing of the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, have teamed together to develop an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flight test training course. This paper briefly describes the development of the course and presents the major elements of the course.

Global Hawk Accident Report, 1999 [510 Pages, 17MB]

Iraqi L-29 UAV Conversion, 23 January 2001 [82 Pages, 1.52MB]

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle End-to-End Support Considerations, 2005 [141 Pages, 1.01 MB] – Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been used in combat operations since the mid-1900s (Office of the Secretary of Defense, 2002). More recently, both Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom have employed UAVs for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as well as time-critical targeting. These successes have confirmed the military utility of UAVs and portend that a greater number of such vehicles may become part of the DoD’s future force posture. However, because of the acquisition strategy employed to field UAVs as quickly as possible, the implications for their long-term support needs are unclear.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Flight Test Approval Process and Its Implications: A Methodological Approach to Capture and Evaluate Hidden Costs and Value in the Overall Process, 22 Mar 2012 [115 Pages, 3.67 MB] – The advancement in small unmanned aerial vehicle (SUAV) technology has brought a new revolution in the military domain. Their uses have become more synonymous with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. Concerns over their flight test safety and accountability have been addressed in multiple policies to mitigate mishaps and increase proper accountability. However, current DoD and FAA mandated regulations and policies concerning UAV flight tests are sometimes considered slow and time-consuming, which may lead to delays in UAV research and development. This study explores the quantitative and qualitative measure of benefits associated with an abbreviated flight test process for SUAVs. Specifically, it examines the current agreement between two major USAF research centers regarding the SUAV flight test approval process. This research utilized high-level multidisciplinary approaches and techniques including qualitative costbenefit analysis, interviews, value stream mapping (VSM) analysis, and heuristic risk analysis to evaluate the current-state process. The findings conclude that there is a slight economic cost and schedule savings in an abbreviated process. Additionally, this research finds no correlation between SUAV flight mishaps and system maturity. This research proposes using a streamlined process for additional safety reviews to eliminate non-value added process steps considered unnecessary due to the nature of the SUAV complexity. Furthermore, this study recommends using a decision rule matrix based on the total cost of the SUAV and its weight and energy at impact for choosing an abbreviated flight test safety review process.

U.S. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Combat, 1991-2003, 09 Jun 2003 [19 Pages, 150 kb] – Between 1991 and 2003, the United States used a variety of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in combat operations. These included the Pioneer, the Pointer, the Hunter, the Predator, the Global Hawk, the Dragon Eye, the Desert Hawk, and the Shadow. During those 13 years the role of UAVs expanded from mere reconnaissance to target designation and attack. Advantages of UAVs over manned aircraft systems include eliminating pilot risk, saving money, providing long-term real-time video reconnaissance, and reducing the time between target identification and destruction. UAVs are especially useful for extremely long reconnaissance missions and for missions in areas of extreme danger. The percentage of unmanned aircraft sorties should continue to grow as UAV capabilities increase. This paper elaborates on the lessons the military has learned about UAVs over the last 13 years, the advantages of UAVs, and their vulnerabilities. The lessons learned are as follows: (1) UAV flights should be carefully synchronized with each other and with the flights of other systems; (2) UAVs should be improved to reduce their vulnerability to weather, enemy air defenses, and mechanical and communication failures; (3) UAVs should be specialized and used for a greater variety of missions; and (4) the Air Force should develop countermeasures to enemy UAVs.

The post Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) first appeared on The Black Vault.

In August of 2016, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was successful in getting the White House to declassify the PRESIDENTIAL POLICY GUIDANCE: White House Rules on Targeted Killing document, which explains the framework for drone strikes.

According to the ACLU:

In response to a court order in a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Obama administration has released a redacted version of the White House document that sets out the government’s policy framework for drone strikes “outside the United States and areas of actual hostilities.” 

The Presidential Policy Guidance, once known as “the Playbook,” was issued by President Obama in May 2013 following promises of more transparency and stricter controls for the drone program. But while the administration released a short “fact sheet” describing the document, it did not release the PPG itself, or any part of it.

Declassified Presidential Policy Guidance

 PRESIDENTIAL POLICY GUIDANCE: White House Rules on Targeted Killing With Drones [18 Pages, 2.7MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/defenseissues/presidential_policy_guidance.pdf

The post PRESIDENTIAL POLICY GUIDANCE: White House Rules on Targeted Killing With Drones first appeared on The Black Vault.

Low-flying aircraft causing concern in Quincy

By Jessica Bartlett, Town Correspondent, Boston.com

 

A small, low-flying aircraft has been causing a fuss in Quincy this week, with many unanswered questions about what the aircraft is doing and who is operating it.

 

“It is a sanctioned flight by the FAA,” said Quincy Police Captain John Dougan, but that’s all the information he could give.

 

Dougan said the Police Department had received about half a dozen phone calls in the past week about the aircraft, which was humming loudly over residents’ heads at odd hours.

 

Despite the resident concerns, information has been limited.

 

Jim Peters, a public affairs spokesperson with the FAA, confirmed they knew about the aircraft but also declined to comment on what it was. “We’re not releasing anything beyond that,” he said. (The Full Article Source)

All documents from the FAA regarding this incident [4 Pages, 640kb]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/defenseissues/quincyacftemails.pdf

The post Low-flying aircraft causing concern in Quincy (May, 2013) first appeared on The Black Vault.

Coalition jet fighters shot down an Iranian drone that was hovering over Iraq late last month, Multinational Force Iraq officials confirmed today.

 

The incident occurred Feb. 25, about 60 miles northeast of Baghdad, officials said in a statement.

Two coalition aircraft were directed to visually identify the unmanned aerial vehicle after it was detected hovering inside the Iraqi border. The pilots confirmed that it wasn’t a coalition aircraft and that no collateral damage would result from a shoot-down.

Coalition air forces tracked the UAV for nearly one hour and 10 minutes before the pilots engaged and shot it down “well inside Iraqi airspace,” officials said.

Officials said they believe the drone to be an Iranian-made Ababil 3 model UAV.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and military leaders have long accused Iran of interference in Iraq. Iran poses “a real problem,” Gates said on PBS’ “Tavis Smiley Show” March 11.

“I think it’s one of the significant challenges that we’re going to face over the next several years,” he said. (Source)

Documents from the DOD Regarding the Incident [11 Pages, 2.13MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/defenseissues/irandroneshootdown2009dod.pdf

The post Coalition Jets Shoot Down Iranian Drone Over Iraq (03/2009) first appeared on The Black Vault.