Chile Declara que los OVNIs no plantean una Amenaza a los Aviones

El presente artículo fue escrito por la periodista investigativa Leslie Kean, autora del libro “UFOs – Generals, Pilots, and Government Officials go on the Record” – Nueva York, 2010. Kean estuvo en Chile en la reunión a que hace referencia y que diera pie a su informe.

Una reciente reunión de alto nivel en el comando del Departamento de Aviación Civil de Chile será posiblemente la envidia de esos estadounidenses que desean una abierta participación del gobierno en las investigaciones de los OVNISs, en lugar de la habitual total desestimación.

La pregunta de si los Fenómenos Aéreos No Identificados (FAN) plantean algún peligro para las operaciones aéreas civiles y militares fue puesta a discusión. Un video oficial sobre el acontecimiento (los primeros 4 minutos), subido el viernes, es elocuente. No se necesita entender una palabra en español para tomar nota de las expresiones serias en las caras de los participantes.

La agencia de Chile que investiga los OVNIs/FAN, conocida como CEFAA (Comité para el Estudio de Fenómenos Aéreos Anómalos) está ubicada dentro del ministerial Departamento de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC), el equivalente a nuestra FAA [Agencia Federal de Aviación – N. del T.], bajo la jurisdicción de la Fuerza Aérea Chilena.

El Gral. Ricardo Bermúdez, director del CEFAA, invitó a diecinueve expertos altamente calificados en una variedad de especialidades, para la reunión del 31 de Julio, a fin de explorar la cuestión de la seguridad e intentar llegar a una conclusión. El diálogo resultante duró tres horas.

El nuevo director de la DGAC, el General de la Fuerza Aérea Rolando Mercado, ex – director de operaciones y planeamiento estratégico del Estado Mayor, dio la bienvenida a los participantes y asistió a la primera parte de la discusión. “Quiero agradecer a todos  los miembros de este comité, por su enfoque serio, científico, en la investigación de este fenómeno” y agregó luego; “que le ha ganado justo prestigio al CEFAA, no sólo en Chile, sino en países extranjeros.”

Entre los especialistas de la DGAC estaban el director del Observatorio Meteorológico, el jefe del Centro Metropolitano de Operaciones de Radar, el principal de las Investigaciones de Accidentes, el jefe de operaciones de la DGAC, el director de las Operaciones de Seguridad en Aeropuertos, y un ingeniero aeroespacial.

 

Los miembros del panel estaban familiarizados con el tema debido a las variadas afiliaciones con el CEFAA como asesores, miembros del comité, y expertos que son llamados a contribuir con la investigación de casos.

                                         fotos cortesía DGAC

Cada participante ya había aceptado el hecho de que los OVNIs son un fenómeno real que necesita ser investigado, sin duda. Esto de por sí es inusual, según lo vemos los estadounidenses.

“Para los chilenos esto es completamente normal y no lo consideramos en manera alguna una noticia”, dijo  José Lay encargado de asuntos internacionales del CEFAA.

Aquí están algunos fragmentos de los comentarios más interesantes que ayudaron a influir en la conclusión final.

• ·         Jefe de operaciones de la DGAC: “Si, como muchos testigos han declarado, los FAN demuestran ‘conducta inteligente’, y si admitimos este hecho, entonces debemos observar “la intención detrás” de esa inteligencia, ya sea que se trate de una forma de energía quizás, eso no importa. La inteligencia es lo que importa. Si esto es así, debemos preguntarnos: ¿ha mostrado hostilidad o llevado adelante abiertamente maniobras amenazantes? ¿Ha atacado realmente a nuestros aviones?  Al día de hoy, tal no parece ser el caso. No podemos posiblemente llamar algo una amenaza a algo o a alguien si no han mostrado ninguna abierta intención de hacer daño. Y aún menos, ¡ni siquiera conocemos su exacta naturaleza!”

• ·         Capitán de Navío Roberto Boré, de la Aviación Naval: “Aparte de cualquier distracción natural de las tripulaciones, los riesgos hasta ahora no han existido. No podemos calificar a los FAN de riesgo a nuestras operaciones, ni siquiera de un bajo riesgo. Una interacción, ya sea buena o mala, entre un ser humano y un FAN no existe en nuestros cielos hasta ahora, hasta donde yo sé.”

• ·         Jefe de control de Radar, Mauricio Blanco: “En aeronáutica, debemos medir el riesgo científicamente y tenemos todas las herramientas para hacer eso. Tenemos que establecer una “matriz de riesgo”, considerando posibilidad y probabilidad. El nivel de riesgo por los FAN no ha sido analizado. Se puede medir, y dadas las probabilidades, este nivel es muy bajo.”

Blanco es uno de los más altos funcionarios que realmente está en la vanguardia cuando se denuncian observaciones de OVNI al control de radar en tierra o son detectados por radar, en cualquier parte del país. En 2012, le entrevisté en el centro de radar en Santiago, y me mostró el libro de bitácora donde se registran inicialmente las observaciones de OVNI antes de ser enviadas al CEFAA. Los informes son escritos a mano para asegurar que no están alterados o afectados por la transferencia a computación, y para proveer un registro claro de quien verdaderamente escribió la entrada. Como estadounidense me sorprendió la actitud realista de Blanco acerca de los OVNIs. Es difícil acostumbrarse al hecho de que los OVNIs son aceptados como parte de la vida en Chile.

Más comentarios surgidos en la reunión.

• ·         Experto de la DGAC en investigaciones de accidentes: “Hasta ahora, en la práctica, sólo hemos visto los efectos. Esos que hemos captado en fotografías, videos, informes oficiales, testimonios, etc. Y por eso podemos decir que el fenómeno existe. Pero su origen no lo hemos definido. Y sin esta definición, no podemos establecer una estrategia para contrarrestarlo…He hablado con pilotos que han tenido avistamientos. Hasta ahora, ninguno ha experimentado una exagerada preocupación, apenas simple curiosidad.”

• ·         El químico nuclear: “Si nuestros pilotos civiles y militares están bien informados acerca de los FAN, el riesgo debido a distracción caerá a un mínimo porque el factor sorpresa no estará allí. A juzgar por las estadísticas mundiales, la cantidad  de aviones que presuntamente han estado implicados en un accidente con FAN representaría una minúscula fracción de los accidentes causados por pájaros.”

El psicólogo de la Fuerza Aérea aconsejó más educación para los pilotos –a fin de incrementar la conciencia más bien que alertarlos de cualquier peligro latente. Otros recomendaron que las instrucciones sobre el reporte de un piloto sean incluidas en los cursos de entrenamiento aéreo. Los científicos sugirieron un mayor estudio multidisciplinario: “para acercarnos a la verdadera naturaleza [de los FAN] cuanto sea posible” dijo el astrónomo Luis Barrera.

La conclusión fue clara. “Basado en la evaluación de la reunión, el comité concluyó que los FAN no presentan una amenaza o peligro a las operaciones aéreas, ya sean civiles o militares”, dijo Bermúdez. “Aunque hubo una pequeña cantidad de accidentes atribuidos a FAN alrededor del mundo, ninguno ha soportado un examen objetivo que presentara una prueba inequívoca de que los FAN fuesen la causa.”

 El Gen. Bermúdez en su oficina en la sede del CEFAA en Santiago (Foto © Leslie Kean) 

El personal del CEFAA tiene sus ojos abiertos por cualquier problema que pueda surgir en las operaciones aéreas. Pero esta no es la razón por la cual hace su trabajo. Quieren saber la naturaleza y origen del fenómeno simplemente porque es una realidad que la ciencia aún no ha explicado.”Aproximadamente el 85 por ciento de nuestro público cree en el fenómeno, de modo que tenemos la obligación de investigar y encontrar de qué se trata.”, dice Lay.  “Esta sería una razón suficiente para que los gobiernos traten de determinar su origen. No hay necesidad de que el público sienta pánico.”

El CEFAA trabaja con sus colegas en América del Sur, y tiene relaciones con aproximadamente una docena de otros países en todo el mundo. Hay un plan para que Bermúdez se reúna con funcionarios de la agencia francesa dedicada a los OVNIs, en la  sede de París del Centro Nacional de Estudios Espaciales (CNES), el equivalente a nuestra NASA. Una reunión formal entre el CEFAA y el GEIPAN francés, las dos principales agencias líderes sobre los FAN en el mundo, nunca ha ocurrido, y esto marca un paso histórico para unificar el esfuerzo internacionalmente.

Está creciendo el impulso para que más gobiernos encaren el problema OVNI, y muchos ojos están puestos en Estados Unidos. Mediante el más pequeño cambio de posición, nuestro gobierno tiene el potencial de desempeñar un papel crucial en quitar el estigma contra la investigación, trazando el camino por lo tanto para una posible resolución del problema.

La reunión chilena sirve como un ejemplo del éxito de un país en trabajar con el tema OVNI a altos niveles y su capacidad de integrar un enfoque serio en todo el país.

Traducción especial para UAPSG-GEFAI del Lic. Milton W. Hourcade

Chile Declares UFOs Pose No Threat to Aircraft

Due to the importance of the information you are going to read, we decided to publish it in English while we proceed to translate it into Spanish.

This article was recently written by the well known investigative journalist Leslie Kean, author of the book "UFOSs -General, Pilots and Government officials go on the Record" New York, 2010.

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A recent high level meeting at the headquarters of Chile's Civil Aviation Department will likely be the envy of those Americans desiring open government participation in UFO investigations, rather than the familiar blanket dismissal. 

The question of whether UAP (unidentified aerial phenomena) pose any danger to civilian and military air operations was up for discussion. An  official video about the event (the first 4 minutes), posted on Friday, is telling. You don't need to understand a word of Spanish to take note of the serious expressions on the faces of the participants.

Chile's agency investigating UFOs/UAP, known as the CEFAA  (Committee for the Studies of Anomalous Aerial Phenomena) is located within the Ministerial Department of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC), the equivalent of our FAA, under the jurisdiction of the Chilean air force. 

Gen. Ricardo Bermúdez, director of the CEFAA, invited nineteen highly qualified experts from a range of specialties to the July 31st meeting, to explore the safety question and attempt to achieve a conclusion. The resulting dialogue lasted three hours.

The new DGAC director, air force Gen. Rolando Mercado, former director of operations and strategic planning of the Joint Chiefs, welcomed the participants and attended the early part of the discussion. "I wish to thank all the members of this committee for their serious, scientific approach in the investigation of this phenomenon," he said afterward, "which has rightly earned prestige for the CEFAA, not only in Chile, but also in foreign countries." 

Scientists in attendance included two well known astronomers (each with an asteroid named after him), a nuclear chemist from the Nuclear Energy Commission, a doctor of aerospace medicine who is also a UN representative, a physicist, an army psychologist and an air force psychologist. 

Among the DGAC specialists were the director of the Meteorological Observatory, the chief of Radar Operations Metropolitan Center, the head of Accident Investigations, DGAC chief of operations, the director of Airport Security Operations, and an aerospace engineer. 

Representatives from different branches of the armed forces and the police corps were also present. All of them, including a navy commander who is in charge of flight security for navy aviation, are also pilots, or have been in the past. Along with Mercado, Bermúdez was once a combat pilot. 

The panel members were familiar with the subject matter due to their various affiliations with the CEFAA as advisors, committee members, and experts called upon to assist with case investigations. 

                                                  

                                                      photos courtesy DGAC

Each participant had already accepted the fact that UFOs are a real phenomenon which needs to investigated, without question. This, alone, is unusual, as we Americans see it.

"For Chileans, this is completely normal and we don't consider it news at all," says Jose Lay, international affairs director for the CEFAA.

Here are excerpts from some of the more interesting comments which helped influence the final conclusion:

• DGAC chief of operations: "If, as many witnesses have declared, the UAP demonstrates 'intelligent behavior,' and if we admit this fact, then we must look for 'the intention behind' that intelligence, whatever it may be -- a form of energy, perhaps -- it doesn't matter. Intelligence is what matters. If this is so, we must ask: has it shown hostility or carried out openly threatening maneuvers? Has it actually attacked our aircraft? To date, this doesn't seem to be the case. We cannot possibly call something a threat to something or someone if they have not shown any open intention to do harm. And even less, we do not even know their exact nature!"

• Navy captain Roberto Borè, Naval Aviation: "Aside from any natural distractions to the flight crews, the risks so far have been null. We cannot call UAP a risk to our operations, not even a low risk. An interaction, either good or bad, between a human being and UAP so far is nonexistent in our skies [in Chile], as far as I know."

• Radar control chief Mauricio Blanco: "In aeronautics, we have to measure risk scientifically and we have all the tools for that. We have to establish a 'risk matrix,' considering possibility and probability. The risk level [for UAP] has not been analyzed. It can be measured, and given the probabilities, this level is very low."

Blanco is one of the highest officials actually on the front lines when UFO sightings are reported to ground control radar or picked up by radar, anywhere in the country. In 2012, I interviewed him at the radar center in Santiago, and he showed me the log book where UFO sightings are initially recorded before being sent to the CEFAA. Reports are written by hand to assure they are not tampered with or affected by computer transfer, and to provide a clear record of who actually wrote the entry. As an American, I was astonished by Blanco's matter-of-fact attitude about UFOs. It's hard to get used to the fact that UFOs are fully accepted as part of life in Chile. 

More comments from the meeting:

• "DGAC expert on accident investigations: "Until now, in practice, we have seen only the effects. And those we have captured through photographs, videos, official reports, testimonies, etc. And thus, we are able to say the phenomenon exists. But its origin, we have not defined. And without this definition, we cannot establish a strategy to counteract it. ... I have spoken with pilots who have had sightings. So far, none has experienced undue concern, just plain curiosity."

• The nuclear chemist: "If our civilian and military pilots are well informed about UAP, the risk due to distraction will come down to a minimum because the surprise factor will not be there. Judging by global statistics, the number of aircraft that have allegedly been involved in an accident with UAP would represent a tiny fraction of the accidents caused by birds."

The air force psychologist advised more education for pilots -- in order to raise awareness rather than alert them to any latent danger. Others recommended that instructions on pilot reporting be included within aviation training courses. The scientists suggested further multi-disciplined studies "to bring us as close to the real nature [of UAP] as possible," stated by astronomer Luis Barrera.

The conclusion was clear. "Based on the evaluation at the meeting, the committee concluded that UAP do not present a threat or a danger to air operations, either civilian or military," Bermúdez said. "Although there have been a small number of accidents attributed to UAP around the world, none have withstood an objective examination that presented unmistakable proof that UAP were the cause."

 

Gen. Bermúdez in his office at CEFAA headquarters in Santiago (photo © Leslie Kean) 

The CEFAA staff have their eyes opened for any effects on air operations that might arise. But this is not the reason they do the work. They want to learn the nature and origin of the phenomenon simply because it is a reality that science has not yet explained. "Around 85 percent of our public believe in the phenomenon, so we have an obligation to investigate and find out what it is," says Lay. "This should be reason enough for governments to try and determine the origin. There is no need to fear panic from the public." 

The CEFAA works with its many counterparts in South America, and has relationships with about a dozen other countries around the world. Planning is underway for Bermúdez to meet with officials from the French UFO agency, at the Paris headquarters of the National Space Studies Center (CNES), the equivalent to our NASA. A formal meeting between representatives of the CEFAA and the French GEIPAN, the two leading UAP agencies in the world, has never occurred, and this marks an historic step toward unifying the effort internationally. 

Momentum is building for more governments to address the UFO problem, and many eyes are on the United States. Through the smallest change in position, our government has the potential to play a crucial role in lifting the stigma against research, thereby paving the way to a possible resolution to the problem.

The Chilean meeting serves as an example of one country's success in working with the UFO issue at high levels and its ability to integrate a serious approach throughout the country.

NASA: 'Impossible' Space Engine May Actually Work

Credit: NASA Glenn Research Center

 By Mike Wall, Senior Writer  SPACE.com

It's really starting to look as if an "impossible" space propulsion technology actually works.
 
Researchers at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston have found that a microwave thruster system that requires no propellant does indeed generate a small amount of thrust, Wired UK reported Thursday (July 31). If the technology pans out, it could make spaceflight far cheaper and speedier, potentially opening up much of the cosmos to exploration, advocates say.
 
"Test results indicate that the RF [radio frequency] resonant cavity thruster design, which is unique as an electric propulsion device, is producing a force that is not attributable to any classical electromagnetic phenomenon and, therefore, is potentially demonstrating an interaction with the quantum vacuum virtual plasma," the NASA team wrote in their study, which they presented Wednesday (July 30) at the 50th Joint Propulsion Conference in Cleveland. [Superfast Spacecraft Propulsion Concepts (Images)] 

The roots of the propulsion system tested by the NASA team trace back to a British researcher named Roger Shawyer, who claims that his "EmDrive" generates thrust by rocketing microwaves around in a chamber. There is no need for propellant, as solar power can be used to produce the microwaves.
Shawyer says that his company, Satellite Propulsion Research Ltd., has successfully tested experimental versions of the thruster. But many scientists have dismissed or downplayed such claims, saying the propulsion system violates the law of conservation of momentum, Wired UK reported.

In 2012, however, a team of Chinese researchers built their own version of the system and found that it does indeed work, generating enough thrust to potentially power a satellite. Then, an American scientist named Guido Fetta constructed his own device, which he calls the "Cannae Drive," and convinced the NASA team — which included warp drive researcher Sonny White — to try it out, which they did over the course of eight days in August 2013.

The NASA scientists determined that the Cannae Drive produces 30 to 50 micronewtons of thrust — less than 0.1 percent of that measured by the Chinese team, Wired UK noted, but nevertheless suggesting that the technology works.

The thruster may work by somehow harnessing the subatomic particles that continuously pop into and out of existence, the NASA researchers suggest. The results and the technology are promising enough to warrant further study, they wrote in the study.

"Future test plans include independent verification and validation at other test facilities," the researchers wrote.

You can read the abstract of the NASA team's new paper for free here: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20140006052