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The National UFO Reporting Center has been investigating accounts of unexplained aerial phenomena since 1974. Online since the earliest days of the Web, the group's site was among the first to be added to the Yahoo! Directory, back in 1995.

Today, the webpage brims over with an impressive amount of information, including the latest sightings, historical accounts, case briefs, and a run-down of some of the most notable cases in the history of unknown objects spotted overhead.

We asked Peter Davenport, the center's director, a few questions about the effect the last decade has had on UFO reporting and UFOs in general.

How has the Web changed UFO reporting?

Generally, the Web has vastly improved UFO reporting. When NUFORC was first founded in 1974, the only effective means of receiving and disseminating data were 1) the telephone, and 2) the postal system. With the Internet, we can handle vastly more detailed information than a telephone conversation permits, and do it more quickly. It has, however, vastly increased the amount of data he/she has to handle.

On the negative side, the Web, as well as cell phones, may have lowered the quality of reports, and increased the number of hoaxes. Witnesses used to prepare formal written statements, but with the advent of the Web, the reports are written more hastily.

How much value do you ascribe to documentary visual evidence today?

Although NUFORC typically receives dozens of photos per week of objects that people can't identify, very few—maybe one of a thousand—are of genuine UFOs. Generally, the photos sent to us show tiny, blurry objects that no amount of photo analysis could positively identify. Most likely, these objects are birds, insects, droplets of moisture, spider webs, celestial bodies, balloons, plane landing lights, missile launches, the International Space Station, etc.

In fact, I find it's unbelievable the photos people send us that clearly have nothing to do with genuine UFO activity. One of the reports we often get, for example, is that of the oscillating four-beam advertising lights that rotate, come together, and then appear to fly apart. Many people have reported these to NUFORC, believing they are viewing four UFOs flying in circles of varying diameter.

Did you investigate the O'Hare incident last year?

NUFORC was the first UFO organization to receive reports of that dramatic sighting of November 7, 2006, and was the first organization to release preliminary details about it.

Because of the number and quality of the witnesses who observed the spinning disc above Gate C-17, below solid overcast, I suspected from the outset it was a good case. For example, I knew that photos had been taken of the object, and I knew that dozens of airline and aviation personnel had observed the craft. Moreover, I had reason to believe that hard copy communications had been generated about the event, even though personnel who had been witness to those documents later claimed they were not even aware of the event. I had limited success in obtaining "hard" evidence, but what I did receive from witnesses leaves no doubt that airline personnel knew about the incident.

On November 14, I discussed the case on the Jeff Rense Radio Program. Two nights later, I made a brief appearance on Coast-to-Coast with George Noory, which induced another crucial witness to to come forward. In January 2007, this witness made an appearance, incognito, on CNN, describing his sighting of the disc from the cockpit of a taxiing Boeing 777.

In my opinion, the O'Hare incident is the most dramatic UFO case of the last couple of years, and one of the most well-documented ever. There are still witnesses to the event whom I wish would submit written reports to us, to supplement what we already have.

In your opinion, what is the one UFO event in which the evidence points to something that cannot be explained by our current scientific understanding?

No question, here: The "Phoenix Lights" case of March 13, 1997. That's perhaps the most dramatic non-landing case in fifty years of UFO research, and the number of witnesses is staggering. I suspect the citizens of Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico who witnessed the objects loitering over Phoenix and surrounding communities may number in the tens or even hundreds of thousands.

Moreover, good video was captured of at least one of the objects, and at least four USAF fighter aircraft are reported to have been launched out of Luke AFB in pursuit. I have what I consider to be very good information about the events of that night on Luke AFB from one of the AF personnel who were involved in the first launch of aircraft.

Is there one well-known event that has gained general acceptance but that you believe to be a hoax?

Hoax attempts are so common, it's difficult to focus on any one. Moreover, I think some reports begin as sincere and then become "contaminated" with follow-up information. Possibly, some of the follow-up information might be an attempt to discredit the original report. The flares launched over Gila Bend, Arizona firing range, some 15-20 minutes after the authentic UFO-related events in Phoenix may be an example of this.

Any trends in UFO reports you've noticed lately?

People are always looking for trends in UFO reports. I don't see any, and I don't believe the data that even the most serious-minded ufologists collect warrants detailed statistical analysis. I'm amused by those who post maps, conjecture on "hot spots," etc. If patterns exist, I certainly don't see them in the data.

What effect has maintaining this database had on your life?

Frankly, I wish I had never heard about UFO's and the National UFO Reporting Center! It has changed my life dramatically, and I'm not sure the effect has been to my benefit. I have made no money in the field and am constantly attempting just to meet the expenses of running the center. The job of Director has given me some interesting insight into what the average citizen believes about UFOs. I suspect that upwards of 90 percent of what Americans read in the media is dead wrong, despite attempts by a relatively small group of dedicated investigators to bring the truth about this fascinating phenomenon to the American people.

I believe that the U. S. government is concealing what it knows about the UFO phenomenon, and the U. S. press is ignoring the most important scientific question that has ever confronted mankind: Are we alone in our galaxy or not? To me, it's clear that our planet is visited on a regular basis.

Thanks for talking to us, Peter!

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