TEAMS

"Talking Points on the need for an expert radar consultant"

The Problem:

Team 8 has identified a significant need for expert technical assistance regarding several
9/11 radar issues. 1) American Airlines Flight 77: Team 8 believes it is necessary to
definitively assess the key technical aspects as to why AA77 was not detected turning to
the east, nor detected until it was just a few miles away from Washington D.C. 2) Flight
path of F-15s scrambled out of Otis Air Force Base: The F-15's radar data obtained by
the Commission is at odds with the pilots' recollection of their flight path to Manhattan
on 9/11.

The radar analysis regarding AA77 is especially complex. Shortly after 9/11, FAA
Headquarters ordered its Indianapolis Center (ZID) to figure out why AA77's turn around
was missed by air traffic controllers. On 9/17/01 ZID produced a one page memorandum
titled "AAL77 Flight Path Information" that concluded the following: "Between the time
of the lost transponder data (Point A) and the time of the "primary" target being
displayed (Point B), no radar data was available to the Air Traffic Control Specialists. "

To date, the ZID memo is the only formal assessment conducted by the FAA on the flight
path of AA77. Team 8 views the ZID assessment to be limited, marginal, and above all -
not definitive. The FAA is currently cooperating with Team 8 staff, and through its
technical center in Atlantic City, is providing an FAA assessment of the flight path of
AA77 that is more detailed and complete than the 9/17/01 ZID memo.

Additionally, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has provided the
Commission with substantial FAA technical information regarding the flight path of
AA77 which is beyond the analytical knowledge base of Team 8 staff.

In conclusion, "the problem" is that the FAA is both the radar data provider and radar
data assessor regarding the flight path of AA77. Accordingly, Team 8 staff strongly
believes that the Commission must have an independent means to "validate and verify"
what the FAA produces.

The Solution:

Team 8 staff requests that NTSB Senior Investigator Charlie Pereira, of the Vehicle
Performance Division, be temporarily detailed (in a "non-reimbursable" status) to the
National Commission's Team 8 staff for a period of ninety (90) days. Mr. Pereira was
not previously involved in any NTSB work regarding 9/11 and was highly recommended
to assist the Commission by former NTSB Chairman, James Hall.

Mr. Pereira has been contacted by Team 8 staff and is very motivated to assist the
Commission. However, Mr. Pereira's managers (Dr. Joe Kolly, Chief of Vehicle
Performance Division, and Dr. Vern Ellingstad, Director Office of Research and
Engineering) will very likely require "encouragement" from NTSB Chairman Ellen
Engleman Conners (202-314-6010).