The OGD Protocol: An Orthogonal Classification System for Unidentified Aerial Phenomena

Abstract: This paper defines a four-channel classification system that makes orthogonal what current UAP systems conflate. Existing frameworks (Hynek, Hendry, Henke) mix observation type, anomaly intensity, causal mechanism, and data quality—producing circular definitions and the systematic inability to record well-documented anomalies. The OGDQ Protocol assigns four independent scores: O (structural category), G (distance from explanation), D (identified mechanism), and Q (data quality). We prove these channels are logically independent and validate the framework empirically across 86,625 cases from two national databases. In the German GEP database (6,294 cases, 1972–2025), where Hynek/Hendry classification is applied, 100% of high-quality (Q1) cases are classified as explained (G0). In the US NUFORC database (80,331 cases), where no classification system is applied, only 21.5% of Q1 cases are G0. This 78.5 percentage point difference demonstrates that the conflation is systemic—a property of the classification methodology, not the data. Conclusion: Classification without orthogonality is merely measurement without calibration. By separating observation, anomaly, mechanism, and quality, the OGDQ Protocol finally enables researchers to test whether UAP are just mistakes (H₀) or a distinct class of phenomena (H₁).