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Within CADORS Meaning

When an official record is not an answer

CADORS entries are useful early safety notices, but their preliminary wording can make uncertain UFO reports sound more settled than they are.

On this page

  • What preliminary and unsubstantiated means
  • Details often missing from UFO related entries
  • How to read a CADORS record cautiously
Preview for When an official record is not an answer

Introduction

CADORS records are often the first official trace of a reported UFO-related event in Canadian airspace, including incidents over remote northern regions such as Nunavut. That official status can make a report appear more authoritative than it really is. The key point is that a CADORS entry confirms that someone reported an occurrence through aviation channels; it does not confirm what was seen. Transport Canada repeatedly warns that CADORS information is preliminary, unsubstantiated and subject to change, and that the system is designed for aviation safety reporting rather than for determining the nature of unusual objects. [Transport Canada+2Transport Canada]tc.canada.caTransport Canada4High Altitude Object Incidents - Transports Canada11 Aug 2023 — In the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS), the ter…

Record Limits illustration 1 This distinction matters because many UFO stories reach the public through screenshots, media summaries or social-media posts that quote only the first CADORS entry. Readers can easily mistake an initial safety report for a completed investigation. In Nunavut, where sightings often occur in remote airspace with few witnesses and limited follow-up data, that misunderstanding can significantly distort how a case is remembered.

When an official record is not an answer

A common misunderstanding is that an entry in a government aviation database amounts to official confirmation that an unusual object existed. In reality, CADORS functions as an occurrence-reporting system intended to identify potential aviation hazards quickly. The information is collected so that relevant authorities and aviation stakeholders can be alerted, not so that a definitive explanation can be issued immediately. [Transport Canada+2Skybrary]tc.canada.cacivil aviation daily occurrence reporting system cadorsTransport CanadaThe Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System…15 Jul 2021 — The information gathered in CADORS is often used in…

Transport Canada states that CADORS information is used for the early identification of hazards and system deficiencies. The emphasis is on speed and awareness rather than exhaustive investigation. As a result, the first version of an occurrence record may contain incomplete descriptions, assumptions, estimates or information supplied by a single source. [Transport Canada]tc.canada.cacivil aviation daily occurrence reporting system cadorsTransport CanadaThe Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System…15 Jul 2021 — The information gathered in CADORS is often used in…

For UFO-related events, this creates a particular problem. The word “UFO” often attracts attention because it carries cultural associations with extraordinary explanations. Yet Transport Canada explicitly notes that the label can refer to many ordinary possibilities, including drones, balloons, meteors, weather phenomena and birds. The classification identifies an object as unidentified at the time of reporting, not as mysterious in any permanent sense. [Transport Canada]tc.canada.caTransport Canada4High Altitude Object Incidents - Transports Canada11 Aug 2023 — In the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS), the ter…

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What “preliminary” and “unsubstantiated” actually mean

The warnings attached to CADORS records are not legal boilerplate. They are important instructions for readers.

When Transport Canada describes CADORS information as preliminary, it means the report may have been entered before all available evidence was gathered. Additional witness statements, radar information, weather data, operational records or technical analysis may emerge later. [Transport Canada]tc.canada.caTransport Canada4High Altitude Object Incidents - Transports Canada11 Aug 2023 — In the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS), the ter…

When the information is described as unsubstantiated, it means the details have not necessarily been independently verified. A pilot may have accurately reported what they believed they saw, but that does not automatically establish the object’s distance, size, speed or identity. Human observation remains vulnerable to misperception, especially at night, over featureless terrain, above cloud layers or in polar environments where visual references are limited. [Transport Canada]tc.canada.caTransport Canada4High Altitude Object Incidents - Transports Canada11 Aug 2023 — In the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS), the ter…

This is one reason why aviation safety systems separate reporting from explanation. Reporting captures the event quickly. Determining what happened can take much longer and may never be fully resolved.

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Many UFO-related CADORS records contain only the information needed to flag a possible aviation occurrence. Readers who encounter a brief database entry may assume the absence of detail implies something extraordinary. More often, it reflects the purpose of the system.

Information commonly missing from initial entries includes:

  • Independent radar confirmation.
  • Precise distance estimates.
  • Reliable size measurements.
  • Weather and astronomical context.
  • Photographs or sensor data.
  • Follow-up interviews with witnesses.
  • Results from later safety reviews.
  • Alternative explanations considered after the initial report.

These omissions matter because unusual aerial sightings are often difficult to interpret without context. A bright object seen from an aircraft can appear to move unexpectedly when the observer’s own aircraft is changing course, altitude or speed. Atmospheric effects, celestial objects near the horizon, satellites, meteors and high-altitude balloons can all produce confusing visual impressions. Transport Canada’s own guidance stresses that the “UFO” category encompasses many such possibilities. [Transport Canada]tc.canada.caTransport Canada4High Altitude Object Incidents - Transports Canada11 Aug 2023 — In the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS), the ter…

Record Limits illustration 2

The Nunavut challenge: remote skies and limited evidence

The problem of incomplete information is especially relevant in Nunavut.

Large areas of the territory have sparse populations, limited ground observation networks and vast stretches of airspace where only a few aircraft may be present at a given time. When pilots report an unusual object, there may be little independent evidence available for immediate comparison. Even if the report is sincere and detailed, confirming what was observed can be difficult. This does not make the sighting unreliable; it simply means that certainty may remain out of reach. [Nunatsiaq News]nunatsiaq.com65674pilots spot possible ufo above nunavuts northern baffin islandUFO sightings had been reported in Canada in 2017. “The continued reporting of UFOs by the public and the yearly increase in numbers of U…

The well-known November 2018 sighting over northern Baffin Island illustrates the issue. The event became widely known because it appeared in aviation reporting channels and attracted media attention. The official record established that professional aircrew reported an unusual object. It did not establish the object’s identity, origin or nature. Subsequent public discussion often focused on the fact that the sighting was officially recorded rather than on the limits of the available evidence. [Nunatsiaq News]nunatsiaq.com65674pilots spot possible ufo above nunavuts northern baffin islandUFO sightings had been reported in Canada in 2017. “The continued reporting of UFOs by the public and the yearly increase in numbers of U…

How media coverage can amplify misunderstandings

Aviation databases are valuable because they create transparency. Yet transparency can also generate confusion when readers encounter only part of the record.

A headline stating that a “government database logged a UFO” is technically accurate. The misleading step occurs when readers interpret the existence of the record as proof that investigators confirmed an unknown craft. In many cases, the database simply records that a pilot, controller or other participant reported something unusual. [Transport Canada]tc.canada.caTransport Canada4High Altitude Object Incidents - Transports Canada11 Aug 2023 — In the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS), the ter…

The same pattern appears internationally in aviation occurrence systems. Safety reporting is designed to encourage reporting, preserve information and identify risks. It is not intended to serve as a final judgement about the cause of every event. [CAA]caa.co.ukOpen source on caa.co.uk.

As UFO-related stories circulate online, crucial qualifiers such as “preliminary”, “reported”, “possible” or “unsubstantiated” are often dropped. What began as a cautious safety record can then be retold as a confirmed mystery.

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How to read a CADORS record cautiously

Readers interested in Nunavut’s UFO history can get far more value from CADORS by treating it as the beginning of an inquiry rather than the end.

A useful approach is to ask three questions:

  1. What is actually being confirmed? Usually only that an occurrence was reported.
  2. What information is missing? Look for radar data, weather information, witness numbers and follow-up analysis.
  3. Was there later reporting? News coverage, safety reviews or archival releases sometimes provide context that the original entry lacked.

It is also worth remembering that an unresolved sighting is not the same thing as an unexplained phenomenon. Some reports remain unidentified simply because there is not enough information to reach a conclusion. Canada’s recent work on unidentified aerial phenomena has repeatedly stressed that “unidentified” does not imply extraterrestrial origin and that additional data often changes interpretations. [Science.gc.ca+2Science.gc.ca]science.gc.caManagement of Public Reporting of Unidentified Aerial…Until recently, the term “UFO” was used to describe aerial phenomena that could…

For researchers examining Nunavut’s aviation-related UFO reports, CADORS remains a valuable source. It can show when and where unusual observations entered official channels. What it cannot do on its own is answer the central question that most readers care about: what was actually in the sky. [Transport Canada+2Transport Canada]tc.canada.caTransport Canada4High Altitude Object Incidents - Transports Canada11 Aug 2023 — In the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS), the ter…

Record Limits illustration 3

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Endnotes

  1. Source: tc.canada.ca
    Title: Transport Canada4
    Link: https://tc.canada.ca/en/binder/4-high-altitude-object-incidents
    Source snippet

    High Altitude Object Incidents - Transports Canada11 Aug 2023 — In the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS), the ter...

  2. Source: tc.canada.ca
    Title: civil aviation daily occurrence reporting system cadors
    Link: https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/publications/aviation-safety-letter/issue-2-2021/civil-aviation-daily-occurrence-reporting-system-cadors
    Source snippet

    Transport CanadaThe Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System...15 Jul 2021 — The information gathered in CADORS is often used in...

  3. Source: search.open.canada.ca
    Link: https://search.open.canada.ca/qpnotes/record/tc%2CTC-2022-QP-00005
    Source snippet

    Open Government PortalQuestion Period Note: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP)Transport Canada (TC) manages the Civil Aviation Daily Occ...

  4. Source: skybrary.aero
    Link: https://skybrary.aero/articles/civil-aviation-daily-occurrence-reporting-system-cadors
    Source snippet

    em which collects information about operational occurrences...

  5. Source: science.gc.ca
    Link: https://science.gc.ca/site/science/en/office-chief-science-advisor/sky-canada-project/management-public-reporting-unidentified-aerial-phenomena-canada
    Source snippet

    Management of Public Reporting of Unidentified Aerial...Until recently, the term “UFO” was used to describe aerial phenomena that could...

  6. Source: nunatsiaq.com
    Title: 65674pilots spot possible ufo above nunavuts northern baffin island
    Link: https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/65674pilots_spot_possible_ufo_above_nunavuts_northern_baffin_island/
    Source snippet

    UFO sightings had been reported in Canada in 2017. “The continued reporting of UFOs by the public and the yearly increase in numbers of U...

  7. Source: caa.co.uk
    Link: https://www.caa.co.uk/mor

  8. Source: science.gc.ca
    Title: questions and answers about sky canada project
    Link: https://science.gc.ca/site/science/en/office-chief-science-advisor/sky-canada-project/questions-and-answers-about-sky-canada-project
    Source snippet

    more...

  9. Source: science.gc.ca
    Title: sky canada report
    Link: https://science.gc.ca/site/science/sites/default/files/documents/sky-canada-report.pdf
    Source snippet

    Management of Public Reporting of Unidentified Aerial...28 Jun 2025 — Reports from pilots, military personnel and civilians alike descri...

  10. 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-4044
    Source snippet

    Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS...5 Sept 2025 — The purpose of the CADORS Manual is to outline the criteria and repor...

  11. Source: canada.ca
    Link: https://www.canada.ca/en/library-archives/collection/research-help/science-technology/ufos.html
    Source snippet

    Canada's UFOs: The search for the unknown2 Mar 2026 — These documents were accumulated between 1947 and the early 1980s and represent all...

  12. Source: tc.canada.ca
    Title: report incident affecting airport aerodrome safety
    Link: https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/operating-airports-aerodromes/report-incident-affecting-airport-aerodrome-safety
    Source snippet

    See the Aerodrome Safety Circular 97-002 for more information about when to report using CADORS.Read more...

Additional References

  1. Source: reddit.com
    Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/flying/comments/hbrcih/cador/
    Source snippet

    Cador: r/flyingA CADOR is is an official report of some kind of incident. It can be about an airspace or runway incursion, a bird strike...

  2. Source: reddit.com
    Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/198e3pq/canadian_ufo_flight_reports/

  3. Source: bst.gc.ca
    Link: https://www.bst.gc.ca/eng/incidents-occurrence/aviation/index.html
    Source snippet

    Report an air transportation occurrenceYou need to report the occurrence if you are the owner, operator, pilot-in-command, any crew membe...

  4. Source: laserpointersafety.com
    Link: https://www.laserpointersafety.com/find/find.html
    Source snippet

    To find incident reportsThe website LaserIncidents.com lists databases with medical, industrial, research, consumer and other non-aviatio...

  5. Source: facebook.com
    Link: https://www.facebook.com/WinnipegBuzz/posts/-%F0%9D%90%92%F0%9D%90%A8%F0%9D%90%A6%F0%9D%90%9E%F0%9D%90%AD%F0%9D%90%A1%F0%9D%90%A2%F0%9D%90%A7%F0%9D%90%A0-%F0%9D%90%AE%F0%9D%90%A7%F0%9D%90%AE%F0%9D%90%AC%F0%9D%90%AE%F0%9D%90%9A%F0%9D%90%A5-%F0%9D%90%B0%F0%9D%90%9A%F0%9D%90%AC-%F0%9D%90%AB%F0%9D%90%9E%F0%9D%90%A9%F0%9D%90%A8%F0%9D%90%AB%F0%9D%90%AD%F0%9D%90%9E%F0%9D%90%9D-%F0%9D%90%A2%F0%9D%90%A7-%F0%9D%90%82%F0%9D%90%9A%F0%9D%90%A7%F0%9D%90%9A%F0%9D%90%9D%F0%9D%90%A2%F0%9D%90%9A%F0%9D%90%A7-%F0%9D%90%AC%F0%9D%90%A4%F0%9D%90%A2%F0%9D%90%9E%F0%9D%90%ACa-westjet-flight-travelling-fro/984474367489207/
    Source snippet

    Winnipeg BuzzA WestJet flight travelling from Winnipeg to Calgary has sparked curiosity after pilots reported spotting a mysterious objec...

  6. Source: icao.int
    Link: https://www.icao.int/sites/default/files/SMI/TrainingDocs/Chapter%205%20Safety%20Data%20Collection%20and%20Processing%20Systems/5.2-09-Canada-Civil-Aviation-Daily-Occurrence-Reporting-Systems-CADORS-presentation.pdf

  7. Source: vice.com
    Title: the truth is out there but this company holding ufo info wont share it
    Link: https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-truth-is-out-there-but-this-company-holding-ufo-info-wont-share-it/
    Source snippet

    The Truth Is Out There. But This Company Holding UFO...29 Jul 2021 — A private company holds some of Canada's most compelling UFO data—a...

  8. Source: aa.com.tr
    Title: canada ufo sightings include reports from airline crews
    Link: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/canada-ufo-sightings-include-reports-from-airline-crews/3120051
    Source snippet

    26 Jan 2024 — The skies above Canada were fertile ground for what could be UFOs with at least 17 reports filed in 2023, according to medi...

  9. Source: syfy.com
    Title: unidentified aerial phenomena ufos in canada
    Link: https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/unidentified-aerial-phenomena-ufos-in-canada
    Source snippet

    Unidentified aerial phenomena have been tracked in...23 Apr 2021 — A recent story from VICE World News dives into these unexplained phen...

  10. 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 202628 Dec 2025 — Therefore, the best UAP/UFO aviation safety strategy in‑flight is...

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