(UK QUESTION) Who can I contact to see whether a plane was in a certain area at a certain time ?

Question

In order to discount what the UFO I saw could have been.

Answer 1

Contrary to what the yanks and "guesswork jockeys" may say, the RAF do not cover the whole sky with their radar and they don't know the identification of everything that flies therein. Also, even if they did know the 'object' was they not be inclined to tell you about it.

Call the National Air Traffic Services (NATS).

01489 616001 ask the operator for "Corporate Communications" and explain to them very carefully what you need to know.

Be patient with them because it's not a common enquiry and you may have to convice them that you're not a prankster or nutter. I'm sure that you can imagine the sort of people that they do sometimes have to deal with (look at some of the answers to your question to see what I mean).

Also, it could take them a few days to trace the records of what it was you saw. There are thousands of aircraft movements every day so tracing any single one is not as "instant" in real life as Hollywood would have you believe.

You should provide as much precise info on time and location and weather conditions as possible. Remember leave a contact number so they can call you back.

Success is not guaranteed, but you can only ask. Good luck.

Answer 2

ET

Answer 3

contact the civil aviation authority in the uk contact your local airport who should be and willing to provide contact details for the authority for your area but bear in mind they may not give you info due to terrorist threats etc and because of terrorism laws on not giving specific info out on aircraft movements

Answer 4

I'm with Capt. May on this one.

Answer 5

Air Force Radar Unit responsible for that area can identify the  flying object as per its speed, height and location.

Answer 6

Air Traffic Control at the nearest airport

Answer 7

Stay off the weed.

(Why do Y! A even allow these questions?)