Spring/Summer 2010

Announcing Project Sphere:

Over the past year NARCAP researchers have been preparing papers addressing the subject of aviation safety-related incidents involving Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) that appear to be spherical in form. The first phase of this project is the compilation of these studies into a core document addressing various aspects of Spherical UAP including Fluid Dynamics, Radar Reflectivity, Case Studies, Photo cases, and more. This document is titled: “Spherical UAP and Aviation Safety: A Critical Review”.

Recent Publications:

NARCAP is pleased to share these recent studies by NARCAP researchers from
around the world.

A Preliminary Study of 300 cases of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP)
Reported by Military and Civilian Pilots
Dominique F. Weinstein NARCAP International Technical Specialist - France
Member of GEIPAN/CNES College of Experts – France, September 2009

A Comparative Analytical and Observational Study of North American Databases on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena
Massimo Teodorani, Ph.D. Astrophysicist, Researcher, Science Writer, NARCAP Research Associate, Italy, November 2009

Near-Miss with UAP near Sao Paulo, Brazil Airport in 2004
Richard F. Haines, NARCAP Chief Scientist

Analysis of Digital Photographs of Commercial Airplane and Small UAP on November 8, 2009
Richard F. Haines, NARCAP Chief Scientist, November 27, 2009

Image Doctoring: JPEG Encoding and Analysis
Richard Tortorella, NARCAP Research Associate, May 2009

Infrared Photographs of Alleged “UFOs
Vicente-Juan Ballester Olmos NARCAP International
Technical Specialist and Miguel Guasp, Spain

Small White Ball of Light Flies Near Airliner: Investigation of High Resolution, Digital, Color Photographs of July 3, 2005 at 2031 Hrs., Palo Alto, California
Richard F. Haines, NARCAP Chief Scientist


A Review of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Designs and
Operational Characteristics
Terrell J. Osborn, Ph.D., NARCAP Research Associate

The NARCAP "OHare" Report
Report of an Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon and its Safety Implications at O'Hare International Airport on November 7, 2006
Dr. Richard Haines, Chief Editor with K. Efishof, D. Ledger, L.Lemke, S. Maranto, W. Puckett, T. Roe, M. Shough, R. Uriarte, 2007

Disclaimer:

The term "Unidentified Aerial Phenomena" or UAP is an attempt to address the fact that not all UAP are described as UFO. Many are simply described as unusual lights. NARCAP feels the term "UAP" more accurately reflects the broad scope of descriptions in aviation reports as well as the possibility that these unusual phenomena may arise from several different sources.

NARCAP is aware of an intense debate regarding the existence, nature and source of so-called "UFOs". NARCAP Technical Reports and documentation have been used by various "UFO" groups to promote their theories and opinions regarding the existence of "alien spacecraft" and "extraterrestrials". NARCAP does not endorse any of these claims nor does it encourage this use of its material.

The answers to the questions regarding the existence, source and nature of the subcategory of UAP referred to as UFO are likely to be found in the data. Given that pilots do report aerial phenomena that they describe as structured objects, NARCAP feels it is appropriate to give attention to the witness' description of what was seen or detected.