A continuing MUFONET-BBS Network - Mutual UFO Network series for the ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Investigator The Investigator's Edge, Number 9 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [Note: Article Contributed By Colorado MUFON] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WHAT'S MY TRAFFIC ? By Ken Spencer January 27, 1991 Civilian aircraft are directed and guided through the skies over the United States from take-off to landing by way of an extremely sophisticated air traffic control system. Much of this system is supported with a network of air traffic control facilities under the auspices of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Here in Colorado, an airliner departing from Denver can expect to be in communications with several facilities during the course of its flight. These air traffic control facilities perform several functions, not the least of which is to assist the pilot in maintaining a safe clearance between other aircraft. The job for both the air traffic controller and the pilot is usually made easier and safer when radar is available. Radar, however, is not a full proof system and by no stretch of the imagination guarantees a pilot or a controller that a vehicle, known or unknown can be identified. In order to acquire a better understanding of just what I mean, let's take a brief minute to educate ourselves about radar. Radar, an acronym from a term originating during World War II, is short for radio detection and ranging. It's an electronic system by which radio waves are bounced off of an object in order to determine its existence and to locate its position in relation to other objects. The radio waves that are transmitted by a radar antenna, when bounced off of an object such as an aircraft are returned to the antenna and through electronic technology "painted" on a cathode ray tube. Unfortunately, target detection is often hampered by "clutter" which is picked up on the radar screen. This "clutter" can be raindrops generated by a thunderstorm, back-scatter from the ground, or even flocks of birds. In order for an air traffic controller to perform his job and detect aircraft more effectively, radar engineers have designed a means by which the "clutter" can be suppressed. Suppressing this "clutter" unfortunately also affects the ability of a controller to see targets on the radar screen. Further advancements in radar technology as well as a necessity to provide more positive identification of aircraft has required that the air traffic system be modified. This modification has meant that aircraft flying in most types of controlled airspace are required by the FAA to have a device which transmits an assigned identification code and altitude information. This device is called a transponder. If you paid a visit to the Denver Center, which is located in Longmont, Colorado, you would have a first hand opportunity to experience how traffic is identified and controlled within the more than 200,000 square mile area under the facility's jurisdiction. An aircraft departing the Denver Stapleton airport would enter the airspace controlled by Denver Center shortly after take-off. Through electronic technology, the aircraft is painted as a target on a cathode ray tube used by the controller. From each symbol he is able to determine the aircraft identification (United 200, Delta 100 etc.), the altitude of the aircraft, and a multitude of other data to assist him with his job. If you were to listen in on his or her conversation, you might hear the pilot's transmission: "Denver Center this is American 3375 at flight level three seven zero (37,000 feet), I have high speed traffic at my 3 o'clock position (to the right of the aircraft) approximately 5 miles, at my altitude, WHAT'S MY TRAFFIC ? " The controller would peer at the scope, notice the American Airlines MD-80 symbol, but see nothing resembling a blip or target anywhere near the aircraft. His response would be: "American 3375, I have no traffic at your 3 o'clock position ". The response from the pilot might be: "Denver Center my traffic is now at my 9 o'clock position, appears to be a black, odd shaped object without any discernible markings moving at a high rate of speed. " The controller might say: " American 3375, I have no traffic at your 9'o'clock position ". With the seemingly endless amount of information available to the air traffic controller, you would think that a situation like this might not be possible. However, this occurs more often than one might think. The target viewed on the CRT at Denver Center is computerized video data and not raw radar. The information is gathered from several radar antennas scattered throughout the state of Colorado and fed into a central computer. It is then displayed as a target symbol on the CRT. If an unidentified aircraft, such as one without a transponder, or one using stealth technology wanders into controlled airspace, a controller may not pick the aircraft up on his scope. There are several reports where aircraft have penetrated controlled airspace without notifying the controlling agency. Aircraft of unknown origin, believe it or not, moving at high rates of speed, maneuvering in a manner not readily associated with anything known to man have been seen by pilots without the benefit of radar identification. In fact, Denver Center recently (December 29, 1990) contacted Colorado MUFON regarding a similar incident reported by a pilot in the airspace above Colorado. We all share the same interest and continue to search for a solution to the UFO enigma. In this instance, we were contacted by a government agency. However, for every incident where government support is freely provided, there are many situations where it is not. This is generally the result of preserving confidentiality, or as a controller recently indicated to me, not being free to release information because of government policy. Never the less, field investigators must pursue every reasonable avenue to gather and document whatever he or she learned for inclusion in the case report and, for the record. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Note - This article is a slightly expanded and modified version of an article appearing in the "Colorado MUFON News" , November/December 1990 issue. Also appearing in the same issue is a summary of the incident which is referred to in this article regarding a daytime sighting made by an airline pilot over southern Colorado. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~