Within Aviation Records
How does a UFO report enter CADORS?
CADORS entries show how unusual-sky reports become aviation safety records without proving what the object was.
On this page
- What CADORS records are built to capture
- How pilot and controller reports move through the system
- Why a safety label is not an explanation
Page outline Jump by section
Introduction
When a pilot in Manitoba reports an unusual light, object or aerial phenomenon, the report does not automatically become a UFO investigation. In most cases, it enters Canada’s aviation safety system first. The key mechanism is the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS), a Transport Canada database designed to record aviation occurrences that could affect safety. A Manitoba sighting may therefore appear in official records not because anyone knows what the object was, but because aviation personnel considered it important enough to document and share. CADORS preserves the fact that something was observed, where it was seen, who reported it and what operational actions followed. It is a safety record before it is a mystery. [Transport Canada+2Transport Canada]tc.canada.caIt is also used to capture informationTransport CanadaThe Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System…Jul 15, 2021 — Launched in 1985, CADORS was created to provide ti…
For readers exploring Manitoba’s UFO history, this distinction matters. CADORS entries can provide some of the most reliable official documentation of unusual aerial reports, yet they are often misunderstood as official confirmations of unexplained phenomena. In reality, they show how a sighting moved through the aviation system rather than what ultimately caused it. [Open Government Portal]search.open.canada.caOpen Government PortalQuestion Period Note: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP)Transport Canada (TC) manages the Civil Aviation Daily Occ…
What CADORS records are built to capture
CADORS was created in 1985 to provide timely information about civil aviation occurrences and hazards. Its purpose is to support aviation safety by collecting reports involving Canadian-registered aircraft, Canadian airports, Canadian-controlled airspace and other aviation events requiring awareness by regulators and operators. The system is intended to help identify hazards and system deficiencies, not to investigate paranormal claims. [Transport Canada+2Transport Canada]tc.canada.caIt is also used to capture informationTransport CanadaThe Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System…Jul 15, 2021 — Launched in 1985, CADORS was created to provide ti…
A Manitoba UFO-related entry therefore sits alongside many other kinds of aviation records, including:
- Bird strikes.
- Runway incursions.
- Mechanical failures.
- Airspace violations.
- Laser incidents.
- Reports of unidentified objects or lights.
The common factor is potential operational relevance. If a pilot, controller or aviation organisation believes an observation could affect flight safety, the event may be recorded regardless of whether the object is eventually identified. [Transport Canada+2Skybrary]tc.canada.caIt is also used to capture informationTransport CanadaThe Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System…Jul 15, 2021 — Launched in 1985, CADORS was created to provide ti…
This is why CADORS records can be valuable to researchers. They are not folklore collections or witness databases assembled years later. They are contemporaneous safety records generated during aviation operations. At the same time, their purpose limits what they can tell us. A CADORS entry often records that an object was reported; it does not necessarily contain the evidence needed to determine exactly what the object was. [Transport Canada]tc.canada.caIt is also used to capture informationTransport CanadaThe Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System…Jul 15, 2021 — Launched in 1985, CADORS was created to provide ti…
How pilot and controller reports move through the system
The path from a Manitoba sighting to a public CADORS entry is usually straightforward.
A pilot flying over Manitoba may observe an unusual light, apparent aircraft, object or aerial activity. The pilot reports the observation through normal aviation communication channels, often to air traffic control. Controllers may then seek additional information, check radar data, contact nearby aircraft, review known traffic or pass the information to relevant aviation authorities. If the occurrence meets reporting criteria, an aviation occurrence report is created. Much of the information that eventually appears in CADORS originates with NAV CANADA, the organisation responsible for Canada’s civil air navigation services. Transport Canada has stated that roughly 80 per cent of CADORS occurrence information comes from NAV CANADA reporting streams. [Transport Canada]tc.canada.caIt is also used to capture informationTransport CanadaThe Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System…Jul 15, 2021 — Launched in 1985, CADORS was created to provide ti…
The reporting obligation is rooted in Canadian aviation regulations. Holders of air traffic services operating certificates are required to report aviation occurrence information specified in the CADORS Manual. The manual establishes criteria and procedures for what must be reported and how reports are transmitted. [laws-lois.justice.gc.ca+2Transport Canada]laws-lois.justice.gc.caoccurrence information specified in the CADORS Manual in accordance…Read more…
A typical sequence looks like this:
- An unusual object or light is observed.
- The sighting is reported to air traffic services.
- Controllers gather operational details.
- An aviation occurrence report is generated if reporting criteria are met.
- Transport Canada receives and records the occurrence.
- A CADORS entry becomes part of the official aviation record.
The process is administrative and safety-focused. It exists to ensure that potentially significant information is captured quickly, even when explanations are incomplete. [Transport Canada+2laws-lois.justice.gc.ca]tc.canada.caIt is also used to capture informationTransport CanadaThe Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System…Jul 15, 2021 — Launched in 1985, CADORS was created to provide ti…
Why a safety label is not an explanation
One of the most common misunderstandings surrounding Manitoba aviation sightings is the assumption that a CADORS entry confirms an unidentified object remained unexplained.
Transport Canada has repeatedly cautioned against that interpretation. The department notes that terms such as “UFO” in aviation occurrence reporting can describe many different things, including balloons, satellites, aircraft lights, drones, atmospheric effects or other ordinary phenomena. The label records uncertainty at the time of reporting rather than a final conclusion. [Transport Canada]tc.canada.ca4 high altitude object incidentsTransport Canada4. High Altitude Object IncidentsAug 11, 2023 — Transport Canada collects aviation occurrence information through the Civ…
This distinction is especially important because CADORS contains preliminary occurrence information. A report may be entered before investigators, controllers or operators have had time to gather all relevant facts. Later information can strengthen, weaken or completely explain the original observation. Yet the initial report often remains the most visible public record. [Open Government Portal]search.open.canada.caOpen Government PortalQuestion Period Note: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP)Transport Canada (TC) manages the Civil Aviation Daily Occ…
For Manitoba researchers, a CADORS record is therefore best viewed as evidence of three things:
- A witness or crew reported something unusual.
- Aviation authorities considered the report operationally relevant.
- The event entered an official safety-reporting chain.
It is not, by itself, evidence that the object was extraordinary or unexplained. [Open Government Portal]search.open.canada.caOpen Government PortalQuestion Period Note: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP)Transport Canada (TC) manages the Civil Aviation Daily Occ…
Why Manitoba sightings appear in aviation records at all
Many well-known UFO reports enter public discussion through local media, civilian reporting organisations or historical archives. Aviation sightings follow a different route. They are often documented because pilots and controllers operate in an environment where unknown objects can pose genuine risks.
Even a harmless explanation can matter. A bright light mistaken for conflicting traffic, an unexpected drone near an airport, a high-altitude balloon or an unusual atmospheric display may all affect pilot decision-making. Recording the event allows aviation authorities to assess whether broader safety action is required. [Transport Canada]tc.canada.caIt is also used to capture informationTransport CanadaThe Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System…Jul 15, 2021 — Launched in 1985, CADORS was created to provide ti…
This makes CADORS particularly relevant to Manitoba. The province sits beneath busy commercial, regional and northern aviation routes linked to Winnipeg and other communities. As a result, unusual observations are more likely to enter structured reporting systems than they would in many purely civilian sighting cases. The aviation record therefore provides an additional layer of documentation that complements, but does not replace, witness testimony and local UFO reporting. [Transport Canada]tc.canada.ca4 high altitude object incidentsTransport Canada4. High Altitude Object IncidentsAug 11, 2023 — Transport Canada collects aviation occurrence information through the Civ…
What CADORS can and cannot tell researchers
For anyone examining Manitoba’s aviation-related UFO history, CADORS is most useful as a trail rather than a verdict.
A CADORS entry can often establish:
- Date and time.
- Approximate location.
- Aircraft involvement.
- Reporting chain.
- Initial witness description.
- Immediate operational response.
What it often cannot establish on its own is the final identity of the object. Determining that usually requires additional evidence such as radar data, weather records, astronomical information, military activity records, follow-up investigations or later witness statements. [Open Government Portal+2Transport Canada]search.open.canada.caOpen Government PortalQuestion Period Note: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP)Transport Canada (TC) manages the Civil Aviation Daily Occ…
That is why CADORS occupies an important middle ground in Manitoba’s UFO history. It is more formal than a casual sighting report, yet narrower in purpose than a full investigation. Its real value lies in showing how an unusual observation became part of Canada’s aviation safety record, preserving a documented trail even when the underlying event remains uncertain. [Transport Canada+2Open Government Portal]tc.canada.caIt is also used to capture informationTransport CanadaThe Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System…Jul 15, 2021 — Launched in 1985, CADORS was created to provide ti…
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Books and field guides related to How does a UFO report enter CADORS?. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.
The UFO Experience
Explains how sightings are categorized and documented rather than simply interpreted.
UFOs
Focuses heavily on pilot, military and official reporting of unexplained aerial events.
The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects
Written by a key investigator and centered on how sightings enter official reporting systems.
Encounter in Rendlesham Forest
Demonstrates how official reports, records and witness documentation become part of the historical record.
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Endnotes
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Source: tc.canada.ca
Title: It is also used to capture information
Link: https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/publications/aviation-safety-letter/issue-2-2021/civil-aviation-daily-occurrence-reporting-system-cadorsSource snippet
Transport CanadaThe Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System...Jul 15, 2021 — Launched in 1985, CADORS was created to provide ti...
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Source: tc.canada.ca
Title: 4 high altitude object incidents
Link: https://tc.canada.ca/en/binder/4-high-altitude-object-incidentsSource snippet
Transport Canada4. High Altitude Object IncidentsAug 11, 2023 — Transport Canada collects aviation occurrence information through the Civ...
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Source: open.canada.ca
Link: https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/a348c1d1-2392-4595-b5e2-c6a244a7e87fSource snippet
Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Report SystemThe system provides initial information on occurrences involving any Canadian-reg...
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Source: search.open.canada.ca
Link: https://search.open.canada.ca/qpnotes/record/tc%2CTC-2022-QP-00005Source snippet
Open Government PortalQuestion Period Note: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP)Transport Canada (TC) manages the Civil Aviation Daily Occ...
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Source: skybrary.aero
Link: https://skybrary.aero/articles/civil-aviation-daily-occurrence-reporting-system-cadorsSource snippet
Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS)CADORS is the name given to the Canadian national ATS safety data report...
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Source: laws-lois.justice.gc.ca
Link: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-96-433/page-111.html/page-33.htmlSource snippet
occurrence information specified in the CADORS Manual in accordance...Read more...
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Source: tc.canada.ca
Link: https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/reference-centre/exemptions-canadian-aviation-regulations-cars/exemption-standards-specified-cadors-manual-made-pursuant-section-80701-canadian-aviation-regulationsSource snippet
Transport CanadaEXEMPTION FROM STANDARDS SPECIFIED IN THE...31 Jan 2009 — Section 807.01 stipulates that the holder of an ATS operations...
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Source: tc.canada.ca
Title: civil aviation daily occurrence reporting system cadors manual tp 4044
Link: https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/aviation-publications/civil-aviation-daily-occurrence-reporting-system-cadors-manual-tp-4044Source snippet
Transport CanadaCivil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS...Sep 5, 2025 — Transport Canada collects aviation occurrence i...
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Source: ised-isde.canada.ca
Link: https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/science/en/office-chief-science-advisor/sky-canada-project/preview-sky-canada-report-ocsaSource snippet
canada.caPreview: Sky Canada Report from the Office of the Chief...Jan 15, 2025 — Some public sources estimate that Canadians report som...
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Source: tc.canada.ca
Title: ca Aviation Safety Letter
Link: https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/publications/aviation-safety-letterSource snippet
Safety Letter - Canada.caThe Aviation Safety Letter (ASL) is published quarterly. It includes articles that address all aspects of aviati...
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google.comCADORS: Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting SystemTitle, CADORS: Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System. Author...
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Title: transport canada uap docs may 2022 for ctv 1
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Canada, the other...Read more...
Published: may 2022
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Source: policycommons.net
Title: Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM)
Link: https://policycommons.net/artifacts/19542279/aeronautical-information-manual/Source snippet
Canada - 2025-1...27 Feb 2025 — The manual includes updates and changes related to meteorology, air traffic procedures, North Atlantic o...
Additional References
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/198e3pq/canadian_ufo_flight_reports/Source snippet
Canadian UFO flight reportsA primary source of UAP event information in Canada is the Civil Aviation... Some accounts from the past rega...
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Source: bst.gc.ca
Link: https://www.bst.gc.ca/eng/incidents-occurrence/aviation/index.htmlSource snippet
Report an air transportation occurrenceReport the occurrence as soon as possible by the quickest means available. Call direct 819-994-374...
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Source: nowtheendbegins.com
Link: https://www.nowtheendbegins.com/the-civil-aviation-daily-occurrence-report-system-in-canada-has-dozens-of-reports-filed-by-pilots-detailing-stunning-encounters-with-ufos/?srsltid=AfmBOopcl1VKihtM0Pd3jtOfxPWETyYmuURs6FgIMCZXQOmVZVvkTd-ySource snippet
The Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Report System In...Apr 21, 2021 — The UFO sightings come from the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Re...
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/flying/comments/1p6kapq/how_serious_are_cadors_for_your_future_career/ -
Source: navcanada.ca
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NAV CANADA HomeServing a world in motion. Learn about careers in air traffic services. Weather and NOTAM. Online flight plan filing. Dron...
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Source: publications.gc.ca
Link: https://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.954480/publication.htmlSource snippet
s associated with collecting and analyzing reliable data on UAP sightings; a...Read more...
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Source: icao.int
Title: 5.2 08 Annex A CADORS Reportable Occurences for CANADA
Link: https://www.icao.int/sites/default/files/SMI/TrainingDocs/Chapter%205%20Safety%20Data%20Collection%20and%20Processing%20Systems/5.2-08-Annex-A-CADORS-Reportable-Occurences-for-CANADA.pdfSource snippet
# $ CADORS MANUAL TP 4044Any occurrence which deviates from normal operating procedures, may generate a high degree of public interest/co...
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Source: fliegerfaust.com
Title: uap ufo aviation safety pilot reporting data
Link: https://www.fliegerfaust.com/uap-ufo-aviation-safety-pilot-reporting-data/Source snippet
UAP UFO aviation safety: what pilots and ATC need in 2026Dec 28, 2025 — Transport Canada maintains the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Re...
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Title: unidentified aerial phenomena ufos in canada
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Unidentified aerial phenomena have been tracked in...23 Apr 2021 — We're not saying it's aliens, but unidentified aerial phenomena have...
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Source: facebook.com
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hrough NAV CANADA and other reports and puts that...Read more...
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