Radar computer printout, continuous data recording

FAA via National Archives / The Black Vault · 179 pages · text by OCR

This FAA Alaskan Region Public Affairs Office release, dated March 5, 1987, is a computer printout of recorded FAA radar data for Japan Air Lines Flight 1628 on November 17, 1986. It covers 38 minutes of computer time and lists 105 radar returns. Of these, 86 are usable and 19 are uncorrelated primary returns. The printout records when the pilot first asked about other traffic and when he said he could not see the UFO. It also explains that uncorrelated returns occur when the primary and beacon signals do not match in position.

Open the PDF at page 3 Original source ↗

“Ç.”60+ pages

p. 3 March 5, 1987 FAA, Alaskan Region Public Affairs Office 701 C Street, Box 14 Anchorage, Alaska…
p. 5 …1 2:11:45.735 2 MODE C TOTAL = 1 SUBSYS 2:11:47.619 193…
p. 6 …1200-3 Code RB 1 2 MODE C TOTAL = 2 VFR Aircraft, not under FAA control…
p. 7 …TOTAL = 2:16:10.306 4 MODE C TOTAL = 3 141.12 196 17 7 1550…
p. 8 …KB 1 SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 2 MODE C TOTAL = 1 2:20:46.574 52.00…
p. 9 …BT 1 SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 4 MODE C TOTAL = 2 2:23:34.944 60.37…
p. 10 …RB 1 SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 3 MODE C TOTAL = 3 67.75 151 13 7 RT…
p. 11 …BEACON ALT SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 6 MODE C TOTAL = 3 73.12 147 12 ? 1200-3…
p. 12 …BT 1 SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 5 MODE C TOTAL = 2 2:29:36.369 54.75…
p. 13 …3 81-3 RB 1 3 MODE C TOTAL = 2 SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 2:32:01…
p. 14 …3 98-3 RB 1 3 MODE C TOTAL = 1 SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 2:34:38…
p. 15 …BT 1 SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 4 MODE C TOTAL = 2 2:37:02.268 103.25…
p. 16 …TOTAL = 2:39:38.625 2 MODE C TOTAL = 48.75 898 78 7 1200-3…
p. 17 …MODE C TOTAL = 1 SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 2:44:51.393 1 MODE C TOTAL = 1…
p. 18 …TOTAL = 2:46:51.820 1 MODE C TOTAL = 52.87 935 82 7 1200-3…
p. 22 …RB | 1 | | SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 1 MODE C TOTAL = 1 | | | | | | | | | | 2:11:45.735 | 193.12…
p. 23 STIME RANGE ACP DEG Q BEACON ALT QUAL SYS SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 1 MODE C TOTAL…
p. 26 …PAGE | PDEG | PRAN | RX | RY | DDEG | DRAN | XV | YV | UDG | SPD | ADS_C | AGE | SYS_CLS | | :--- | :---
p. 27 …ADS C | SYS GLE | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 14.27 | 174.49 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | SUBSYS = 1 | TOTAL = 1 MODE C TOTAL = 1…
p. 28 …DDEG DBAN XV YV HDG SPD ADS C SYS CLS 2:17:05.513 JL1623 -0057…
p. 29 …HDG SPD ADS C SYS DIS SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 1 MODE C TOTAL = 1 2:20…
p. 31 …RB | 1 | | SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 1 MODE C TOTAL = 1 | 2:21:11.041 | 117.02…
p. 32 …RB | 1 | | SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 3 MODE C TOTAL = 2 | | | | | | | | | | 2:25:13.579 | 49.37…
p. 33 …RB | 1 | | | SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = | 3 MODE C TOTAL = | | | | | | | | | | | | 2:29:43.174 | 50.00 | 449…
p. 34 …BT | 1 | | | SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 2 MODE C TOTAL = 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 2:20:34.493 | 51.37…
p. 35 …BT | 1 | | SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 3 MODE C TOTAL = 1 | | | | | | | | | | 2:24:10.961 | 62.25…
p. 36 …BT | 1 | | | SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 3 MODE C TOTAL = 1 | 69.25 | 390 | 34 | 0 | 1552…
p. 37 …QUA | SYS | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 3 MODE C TOTAL = 1 | 51.00 | 900 | 79 | 0 | 1200…
p. 40 …DDEG DPAN XV XV HDG SPD ADS C SYS DIS 2:20:05.300 1200 1200…
p. 41 …3.53 SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 4 MODE C TOTAL = 2 2:21:29.914 1200 04…
p. 42 …ADS C PAGE 7 34.59 4.04 SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 3 MODE C TOTAL = 1…
p. 43 …SPD ADS C PAGE 4 SYS CLS SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 4 MODE C TOTAL = 2 2…
p. 44 …1 NPM SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 7 MODE C TOTAL = 3 2:25:19.109 1200 1200…
p. 45 …DDEJ DRAN XV YV HDG SPD ADS.C PAGE SYS CLS 2:25:53.590 0024…
p. 46 …DDEG DRAN XV YV EDC SPD ADS.C PAGE SYSCLS PRAN RI 2:26:55.695…
p. 47 …7.64 SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 10 MODE C TOTAL = 4 2:45:37.904 JL1629 -0101…
p. 48 …115 1 NPM SUBSYS=1 TOTAL= 7MODE C TOTAL= 4 2:45:22.138 1200 1200…
p. 49 …2:46:50.720 TOTAL = 5 MODE C TOTAL = 3 2:46:51.295 -7.92…
p. 50 SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL= 5 MODE C TOTAL= 3 2:47:39.757 1200 1200 47 2183…
p. 51 …15.95 -12.07 TOTAL = 5 MODE C TOTAL = 3 2:48:25.690 0166 0166…
p. 52 11.37 -11.50 SUBSYS=1 TOTAL= 5MODE C TOTAL= 3 2:49:14.957 0166…
p. 53 …DDEG DRAN XV YV PEG SPD ADS C 2:49:59.233 0000 0000 22 947…
p. 54 C.D.R. EDITOR LISTING JL1523 AFTER 350 TURN DATA SELECTED RB BT RT TD FILTERS…
p. 56 …OUA | SYS | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | SUBSYS = 1 | TOTAL = 2 | MODE C | TOTAL = 2 | | | | | | RB | 1 | | 2:52:19.422…
p. 57 …RB | 1 | | SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 1 MODE C TOTAL = 2:57:31.650 | 132.87 | 1932…
p. 58 …3 RB SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 2 MODE C TOTAL = 2 3:00:19.393 117.12…
p. 60 SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 3 MODE C TOTAL = 3 2:49:19.392 105.25 1914 159…
p. 61 …BT | 1 | | | | SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = | 2 MODE C TOTAL = | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | 2:52:05.954 | 125.37…
p. 62 …QUA | SYS | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 2 MODE C TOTAL = 2 | 115.12 | 1933 | 169 | 0 | 1550…
p. 63 …TOTAL = 2:59:32.069 | 1 MODE C TOTAL = 142.52 | 1939 | 170 | 0 | 4371-3…
p. 69 HADAN ONLY TARGET REPORTS STINE RANGE AGE DES Q BEAGON ALT PAGE C 2:53:07…
p. 78 …DDEG DRAN EV YV UDC SPE AES C SYS GIS 2:45:01.324 TOTEM71-0144…
p. 81 …DDEG DRAN XY IV HDG SPD ADS C FAUF STS GIS 2:42:01.243 25…
p. 84 …DDEG DRAN LV YV EDG SPD ADS.C SYSCIS 2:51:02.304 0000 24 1925…
p. 85 …DDE2 DRAN XV IV BDG SPD ADS C SYS CIS 2:52:02.363 0000 24…
p. 86 …DDEG DRAN XV YV HPG SPD ADS C 2:53:02.277 TOTEM71-2144 4371 47…
p. 87 …18/96 XV YV HDG SPD ADS C PAGE 14 SYS CLS PRAN RX RY DDEG…
p. 88 …111.70 SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 5 MODE C TOTAL = 2 2:55:25.341 TOTEM71-0144…
p. 89 …142.71 SUBSYS = 1 TOTAL = 7 MODE C TOTAL = 3 2:56:39.504 TOTEM71-0144…
p. 90 …DDEG DRAN XV XV HDG SPD ADS C SYS GLS 2:57:03.319 0222 25…

March 5, 1987

FAA, Alaskan Region

Public Affairs Office

701 C Street, Box 14

Anchorage, Alaska 99513

COMPUTER CDR PRINTOUT Reference to Japan Air Lines Flight #1628 November 17, 1986, 5:19 pm AKST RECORDED FAA RADAR DATA

TIME:11/18/86, 02:11.23 UTC

11/18/86, 02:49.13 UTC*

(38 minutes computer time) (20 minutes between first and last uncorrelated return)

RANGE:35-215，AZIMUTH:1-90

1550 = Computer assignment number for JAL #1628.

RB = Reinforced Beacon return (Normal)

RT = Primary radar return, uncorrelated (Skin/surface)

BT = Secondary radar return, (Beacon/transponder)

Number of pages in computer printout = 15 Pages with uncorrelated returns: 2,3,4,5,6,7,10.

19 = NUMBER OF UNCORRELATED RETURNS

86 = NUMBER OF USABLE RADAR RETURNS

105 = TOTAL NUMBER OF RETURNS FOR ABOVE TIME FRAME.

0219:15, (5:19 pm) Pilot first questioned ARTCC re other traffic. 0253:13, (5:53 pm) Pilot said, "I couldn't see UFO".

*UTC = UNIVERSAL TIME COORDINATED

Cited by

Japan Air Lines Flight 1628: The Alaska Mothership 1986

About this file

Document, cited by the archive. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is under it. The text was read from the page images by an OCR model; expect the odd misread word. 179 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.