As much fun as I have reporting on the latest in sci fi tv/movies/merchandising, it never fails to amaze me how entertaining some of our friendly neighborhood newsgroups can be. I can swing by such illustrious newsgroups as alt.alien.visitors and be regale in latest gossip about alien visitations. Part crackpot/part science and 100% delightful, these newsgroups never fail to deliver the goods.
Sir Arthur reported on his supposed discussion with a Los Angeles International Airport air traffic controller who supposedly saw some unexplained things on his radar screen. Sir Arthur wrote, "An air traffic controller working at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) says that in the six years he has worked there, he has personally witnessed four unexplained UFO incidents."
He recounts the controller's experiences allegedly in his own words, 'My area of jurisdiction [covers] northeast of LAX, out over the Mohave desert (including the Edwards test ranges). This area includes a large part of the most restricted airspace in the western United States, an area known to host a large amount of top-secret aircraft activity and also rich in UFO reports.'
'We work closely with the military, and when I am at a sector, there is NOTHING that goes in my sky (military or civilian) without my knowledge. Even the most classified military projects have proper protocol for reservation of airspace, and numerous flight restrictions. They're not about to let their multi-billion dollar projects be sighted or harmed by some dentist's Cessna 172 chugging along for a weekend trip to Vegas),' he says.
"Codenames or nicknames are assigned to the most secret aircraft. 'They'll just call them something else to keep with procedures and restrictions (the Stealth fighter went around as an "A6" fighter when it was classified),' he explains."
"That being the case, when he sees something that is truly unidentified, he's pretty sure it's not a super-secret military project. And he has seen some unusual things."
'In my (only) six years at the Center, I have personally been part of three bizarre encounters, non-military and non-civilian. I'm just one of 15,000 controllers, too, so there have to be many more that go unreported.'
'We used to have a specific number to report 'UFO' sightings,' he says, 'but in the late 80's the directive was replaced by an official 'advisory' to tell pilots, if requested, that they should contact a university or research institution, and no further paperwork was required (unless it was a near mid-air [collision]).'
'Nobody knows what to do, really. There is no government 'coverup,' no mirror-sunglassed agents 'debriefing' us in the back room, no military specialists to take reports. But 'UFO' encounters happen.'
'I've directly been involved in three incidents -- DIRECT involvement. I was there, plugged into the sector, my own eyes were watching the radar, it actually happened! I've been puzzled on all three.'
David Patrick challenges Sir Arthur, "I do find it very dubious that this nameless air-traffic controller claims he was made aware of even the most top secret military planes. Even if the four sightings (and I agree with other posts that that seems a rather low number) were of craft the most logical explanation is top secret military craft rather than aliens."
Mark Shippey, another newsgroup poster, seemed to feel that Sir Arthur was spinning a yarn, "I wonder why it is that so many UFOlogy books appear to be written top appeal to
about an average 8 year old mind? Maybe to you can understand them (Sir Arthur)? Ever notice that almost (not all) every UFOlogy book can be understood by ages 8 and up? Bwhahahaha! Gee, I wonder why? Sales?"
Whatever the case may be, I thank Sir Arthur for bringing a smile to my face. Speculation about unknown phenomenon, alien visitations, space travel never fail to entertain which may explain why the Star Trek franchise has no end in sight. Count 'em: 5 series and almost 30 years of stories. Is Sir Arthur onto something?
|
"Alien Ships Visit L.A."
