US Navy UAP Reporting Guidelines

In April 2019, the US Navy announced that it was drafting new guidelines for pilots to report encounters with “unidentified aerial phenomena” (UAP). This represented a major shift in how the military approached the UFO topic and acknowledged the reality of unexplained encounters.

The Announcement

The Navy stated:

• New reporting procedures being developed
• Aimed at removing stigma
• Encouraged pilot reporting
• Acknowledged increase in sightings
• Took the phenomenon seriously

Why It Happened

The change resulted from:

• Multiple pilot encounters
• Near-miss incidents
• Safety concerns
• Congressional interest
• Credible military witnesses

The Term “UAP”

The Navy chose:

• “Unidentified Aerial Phenomena”
• Avoiding the term “UFO”
• Less stigmatized language
• More scientific framing
• Now widely adopted

Pilot Encounters

Leading to this decision:

• USS Nimitz Tic Tac (2004)
• Roosevelt group encounters (2014-2015)
• GIMBAL and GOFAST videos
• Multiple unreported incidents
• Pattern of sightings

The Stigma Problem

Previously:

• Pilots feared ridicule
• Reporting could hurt careers
• Many incidents went unreported
• Safety was compromised
• Valuable data lost

Congressional Response

The announcement prompted:

• Senate Intelligence Committee interest
• Classified briefings requested
• Legislation requiring reports
• Ongoing oversight
• Bipartisan concern

Media Coverage

The story received:

• Major news attention
• New York Times coverage
• Recognition of the shift
• Public interest renewed
• Mainstream legitimacy

Impact on Disclosure

This led to:

• Pentagon acknowledgments
• Video releases
• Congressional hearings
• AARO establishment
• Ongoing investigation

Significance

The Navy’s new guidelines were significant for:

• Official acknowledgment of phenomenon
• Destigmatizing reports
• Safety improvement
• Data collection
• Shifting public perception

Legacy

The 2019 Navy UAP reporting guidelines marked a turning point in official attitudes toward UFOs. By acknowledging that pilots were encountering unexplained objects and creating formal reporting mechanisms, the military legitimized a subject long relegated to the fringes.