Over 1,300 pages of former secret UFO documents surface in Brazil and was given to the Brazilian Committee of UFO Researchersby A. J. Gevaerd
What was the
SIOANI
The System for the Investigation of
Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (SIOANI) was unprecedented in Brazil and in the
world. It was created in 1969, under the inspiration and guidance of Air Force
major-brigadier José Vaz da Silva, head of the Committee for the Investigation
of Flying Saucers. In its early stages, SIOANI had high-ranked propositions
and it operated exemplarily. Its conceptualization demonstrates so: “SIOANI is
the collective resources of personnel and materiel dedicated to the
investigation and research of the so-called Unidentified Aerial Objects (UAO)
phenomenon”. The closure of the USAF’s Project Blue Book in 1969 may have
contributed for the shutting down of SIOANI in 1972. Unfortunately, over 90%
of FAB personnel nowadays have absolutely no knowledge of this amazing
endeavor. However, as far as we know, the percentage of laypeople involved in
the issue tends to increase quickly. The SIOANI was organically constituted
by:
(a) Center for the Investigation of Unidentified Aerial
Objects (CIOANI) – A central body of the System.
(b)
Investigation Zone of Unidentified Aerial (ZIOANI) – A geographical area which
comprised the Offices for the Investigations of Unidentified Aerial Objects
(NIOANI). There were six of those offices.
(c) Office for the
Investigation of Unidentified Aerial Objects (NIOANI) – A bureau that was in
charge of observing, investigating and collecting materials for research into
the Unidentified Aerial Objects (UAO). Its function could be executed by a
military agency, a public institution or individuals. The NIOANI was attached
to its corresponding ZIOANI.
(d) Research and Analysis
Laboratories (LIOANI) – Supporting agencies for the accomplishment of research
tasks and material analysis related to UAO.
(e) Personnel and
materiel transport (TIOANI) – Means of transportation that was first provided
by official agencies, military or civilian, upon request by CIOANI, ZIOANI or
NIOANI. When official transport was not available, the commercial
transportation could be used. The transport had to be appropriate, efficient
and fast. A quick arrival to the spot where a UFO incident had occurred was
basic, so that there would be no alteration of traces or distortion of facts.
For that purpose there were five small-sized aircraft, two twin-engine craft
and three single-engine craft, based on the Park for Aeronautical Materiel in
São Paulo, and were run by the 4th Air Zone. Those aircraft were used for the
Organization’s normal services, as well by those demanded by
SIOANI.
(f) Communication network (RIOANI) – Comprised of a web
that involved the now-extinct FAB’s communication networks, and further
Singular Forces (Brazilian Army and Navy), Police Forces and the amateur-radio
network, aiming at rapid transmission of phenomenological occurrences or the
information flow between the several links in the system. SIOANI reported to
the Ministry of the Aeronautics, but the results of its work was forwarded to
the Air Force’s Chiefs-of-Staff. Within the 4th Air Zone, it was outside the
frame of its Chiefs-of-Staff, but its chief was also responsible for the 2nd
Section (Information), encompassing CIOANI, which confirmed that the UFO issue
was handled by an Information (nowadays Intelligence)
officer.
Considering that SIOANI wasn’t a top secret
agency and that even civilian researchers took part of its procedures, all
this structure proves that Brazil was the first country in the world ever to
officially and publicly admit the reality of the UFO Phenomena, and the first
one to investigate it openly, in a not secret
manner.
A. J. Gevaerd,
Editor,
Brazilian UFO Magazine
Coordinator, Brazilian Committee of UFO Researchers
(CBU)
National Director, Mutual UFO Network
(MUFON)
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