FAA Mandates "Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena" Terminology for Air Traffic Controllers

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has officially updated its air traffic control manual, replacing "Unidentified Flying Object" (UFO) with "Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena" (UAP). This procedural change, highlighted by Americans for Safe Aerospace (ASA) and former Navy pilot Ryan Graves, aims to standardize terminology across federal agencies and improve the reporting of unexplained aerial observations. The update, detailed in FAA Notice N 7110.800, takes effect on October 26, 2025, and directs all Air Traffic Organization (ATO) personnel to use the new term.

The revised directive modifies sections 1-2-6 and 9-8-1 of FAA Order JO 7110.65, the primary document governing air traffic control procedures. Controllers are now instructed to "Inform the operations supervisor/CIC of any reported or observed unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP)/unexplained phenomena activity." This shift aligns the FAA with Title 50 United States Code (50 U.S.C.) section 3373, which established the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office and formally adopted UAP as the governmental term.

This update signifies a broader institutional acknowledgment of UAPs as a legitimate concern for aviation safety and national security. Air traffic control personnel must now notify the National Tactical Security Operations (NTSO) Air Traffic Security Coordinator (ATSC) team of any UAP reports or observations, streamlining the reporting process. While the online version of FAA Order JO 7110.65 does not yet reflect these changes, the notice itself outlines the new requirements for all relevant personnel.