United States Air Force (reprinted by CUFON)
original sourcefair use notice
Summary: U.S. Air Force regulation on reporting of UFO sightings vital to intelligence and national security.
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AIR FORCE REGULATION 55-88 |
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DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 42 CS/CC Dale Goudie Dear Mr. Goudie We have processed your Freedom of Information Act request dated 27 January 2000. The information you requested is releasable and a copy is enclosed. There is no charge for processing this request since assessable fees are less than $15.00. Sincerely /S/ John R. Taglieri Attachment: Golden Legacy, Boundless Future... Your Nation’s Air Force
============================================================ AIR FORCE REGULATION
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE { S/S by AFM 55-11, 20 May 68 } AFR 55-88 OPERATIONS COMMUNICATIONS
INSTRUCTIONS REPORTING VITAL This regulation states Air Force responsibilities and training requirements for peacetime reporting of vital intelligence sightings prescribed by JANAP 146 directives, "Canadian-United States Communications Instructions for Reporting Vital Intelligence Sightings." 1. What Sightings Will Be Reported. Air Force personnel will report by rapid communication procedures all unidentifiable, suspicious, or hostile land, air, or seaborne traffic which - because of its nature, course, or actions - must be considered a threat to the security of the US or Canada. Such reporting will serve to extend the early warning defense system for the US and Canada. 2. What CIRVIS Reports Are Required. The type of land, sea, or airborne traffic which should be reported, and when it must be reported, are defined in JANAP 146 directives. They prescribe the following CIRVIS reporting: a. The initial CIRVIS report - issued while the pilot is airborne, (or, as warranted, upon landing) or by the land observer as soon as practicable. Additional CIRVIS reports will be made if situation requires it, and each one should refer to the initial report to permit identification with the original sighting. b. The CIRVIS cancellation report - issued by the observer if a previously reported sighting is positively identified as friendly or has been erroneously reported. c. The CIRVIS post-landing report- issued by the pilot when he lands, if he has made an airborne report. It must cite the airborne report(s) issued. If the landing is not made in Canadian or United States territory the report should be made to the nearest Canadian or United States military or diplomatic representative. Post-landing reports should be addressed to CINCNORAD, Ent AFB, Colorado, or Headquarters Northern NORAD Region, North Bay, Ontario, whichever is the more convenient. d. The CIRVIS evaluation report - submitted by each addressee of the above CIRVIS reports. It will include negative or other information as warranted, and will be submitted promptly to keep all message addressees fully informed during the evaluation phase. All investigative measures and evaluation processes instituted by the addressee must be consistent with existing procedures, and reported according to JANAP 146 (E), March1966. 3. Addressees for CIRVIS Reports. Timeliness is paramount in CIRVIS reporting. Therefore, observers should transmit these reports as soon as possible. FLASH precedence is authorized. Reports should be transmitted to any available United States or Canadian military or civil air / ground communications facility. That facility will rapidly process the reports as prescribed by JANAP 146 directives, and add the addressees as given below. a. If the sighting is in an oversea area, the addressees will be: (1) CSAF (1st line of text For:
AFXOPX) b. If the sighting is within the North American continent or within waters bordering the North American continent (Atlantic Ocean to territorial limits of Europe; Pacific Ocean to the territorial limits of Hawaii), the addressees will be: (1) The commander of the nearest
NORAD organization or Air Defense Command Unit. 4. Training Requirement: a. A realistic training program will be conducted for crew members, pilots and other personnel, who must submit timely and accurate CIRVIS reports to the defense elements of the Armed Forces. However, this training program will not take precedence over the primary missions of the commands. b. Communications personnel will be trained in the procedures for processing CIRVIS reports as established by the JANAP 146 directives, and as prescribed by Air Force Communication Service (AFCS). 5. Air Force Responsibility: a. Each major commander will insure compliance with this directive within his command. b. The Director of Operations, DCS/Plans and Operations, HQ USAF, is responsible for the over-all monitoring of all CIRVIS reporting. This responsibility includes supervision and coordination of all USAF and non-USAF activities concerned with CIRVIS that pertain to training, operational procedures, standardization of reporting procedures, and evaluating reports. It also includes appropriate coordination with CINCNORAD and dissemination of CIRVIS reports to appropriate agencies in the Washington, D.C., area. 6. Reporting From Commercial Flights. The Commander, MAC, will discharge the Air Force responsibility for compliance with all JANAP 146 directives that concern regularly scheduled and non-scheduled United States commercial air lines. This includes information and guidance mutually acceptable to the air carrier and to MAC. 7. Reporting From Civil Air Patrol Flights. The Commander, Civil Air Patrol, will conduct whatever training is required to insure that CAP pilots and aircrew personnel are qualified to perform effective CIRVIS reporting. This regulation supersedes AFR 55-88, 8 January 1965. OPR: AFXOPXS DISTRIBUTION: S
BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE OFFICIAL
R. J. PUGH J. P. McCONNELL 2
============================================================ ! This earlier version of AFR 55-88 presented below was kindly provided to CUFON by Jan Aldrich of Project 1947! ============================================================ AFR 55-88 AIR FORCE REGULATION
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE Operations COMMUNICATIONS
INSTRUCTIONS REPORTING VITAL This regulation states the Air Force responsibilities and training requirements for peacetime reporting of vital intelligence sightings prescribed by JANAP 146 directives, "Canadian-United States Communications Instructions for Reporting Vital Intelligence Sightings." (Short title: CIRVIS/MERINT). The regulation is applicable world-wide. 1. What Sightings Will Be Reported. As a means of extending the early warning defense system for the United States and Canada, all Air Force personnel will report by rapid communication procedures all unidentifiable, suspicious, or hostile air or seaborne traffic which, because of its nature, course, or actions, must be considered a threat to the security of the United States or Canada. Priority interest sightings include those which might, in the observer's opinion, require urgent defense or investigative action by United States or Canadian forces. 2. What CIRVIS Reports Are Required. The type of sea or airborne traffic which should be reported, and the time it must be reported, are defined in JANAP 146 directives. They prescribe the following CIRVIS reporting: a. The initial CIRVIS report - issued while the pilot is airborne, (or, as warranted, upon landing); additional CIRVIS reports will be made when the situation requires it and each one should refer to the initial report to permit identification with the original sighting. b. The CIRVIS cancellation report - issued by the pilot if warranted. c. The CIRVIS post landing report - issued by the pilot when he lands, if he has made an airborne report; it must cite the airborne report(s) issued. d. The CIRVIS evaluation report - submitted by each addressee of the above CIRVIS reports; it will include negative or other appropriate information as warranted, and will be submitted promptly so that all message addressees may be kept fully informed during the evaluation phase. All investigative measures and evaluation processes instituted by the addressee will be in accordance with existing procedures and reported in accordance with JANAP 146 (D), February 1959. 3. Addressees for CIRVIS Reports. Timeliness is paramount in CIRVIS reporting. Pilots should, therefore, transmit these reports as soon as possible while airborne; reports should be transmitted to any available United States or Canadian military or civil air / ground communications facility. That facility will insure rapid processing of the reports as prescribed by JANAP 146 directives, and add the appropriate addressees as given below. (Note: Precedence and means of transmission of reports to NORAD and Headquarters USAF from PACAF and USAFE areas will be selected on basis of the apparent value of the information.) a. If the sighting is in an oversea area, the addressees will be:
b. If the sighting is within or in an area adjacent to the North American continent, the addressees will be:
4. Training Requirements. A realistic training program should be conducted for crew members, pilots and other personnel, who must submit timely and accurate CIRVIS reports to the defense elements of the Armed Forces. However, this training program will not take precedence over the primary missions of the commands. a. Pilots will be briefed on CIRVIS reporting requirements and procedures before takeoffs. b. Communications personnel must be trained in the procedures for processing CIRVIS reports as established by the JANAP 146 directives, and as prescribed by Airways and Air Communication Service (AACS). 5. Air Force Responsibility: a. Each major air commander will insure compliance with this directive within his command. b. The Director of Operations, DCS / Operations, Headquarters USAF, is responsible for the overall monitoring of all CIRVIS reporting. This responsibility includes the stimulation, supervision, and coordination of all USAF and non-USAF activities concerned with CIRVIS that pertain to training, operational procedures, standardization of reporting procedures, and evaluating the reports. It also includes appropriate coordination with CINCNORAD. 6. Reporting From Commercial Flights. The Commander, Military Air Transportation Service will: a. Discharge the Air Force responsibility for compliance with all JANAP 146 directives that concern regularly scheduled United States commercial airlines; this includes information and guidance mutually acceptable to the air carrier and to MATS b. Supervise the AACS training program for the communications personnel who process CIRVIS. 7. Reporting From Civil Air Patrol Flights. The Commanding General, Civil Air Patrol, will conduct whatever training is required to insure that CAP pilots and aircrew personnel are qualified to perform effective CIRVIS reporting. This regulation supercedes AFR 55-88, 22
October 1959. BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE: OFFICIAL:
THOMAS D. WHITE J. L. TARR 2 |