Elf News Reporter at North Pole News Network
Elf Meg graduated from Southern North Pole University with a degree in journalism. For several years she was a star reporter for the North Pole Gazette and then briefly served as a producer for North Pole Radio News. She brings her experience in media to North Pole Flight Command, serving as both an Elf News Reporter for North Pole Radio News and Managing Editor of North Pole Flight Command.com
Elf Meg Nogg
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A break for all test pilots and reindeer working the test flight teams has been ordered. Starting tomorrow, October 28th, teams will be returning to the North Pole for the break. After the North Pole Halloween Party scheduled for October 31st the pilots and reindeer will return to active duty.

This break gives crews from Research and Development to position Version 8 of Santa’s Sleigh to begin testing Tuesday, November 1st. We are awaiting a decision from Flight Command about where those tests will take place.

We also anticipate clearing the tracking map of past places where the sleigh has flown since July. This will give us all a fresh take on the test flights as we go into the month of November.

November is expected to be a big month of testing.

Elf News Reporter at North Pole News Network
Elf Meg graduated from Southern North Pole University with a degree in journalism. For several years she was a star reporter for the North Pole Gazette and then briefly served as a producer for North Pole Radio News. She brings her experience in media to North Pole Flight Command, serving as both an Elf News Reporter for North Pole Radio News and Managing Editor of North Pole Flight Command.com
Elf Meg Nogg
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Yet another new design version of Santa’s sleigh has been sent to Sector 1.

Today, Sunday October 23rd, is a rare day off in the flight schedule. Pilots, reindeer and flight crew are in the Philippines taking a day off while the new sleigh version is sent there before test flights resume tomorrow.

Version 7 of Santa’s sleigh will focus on speed improvements that engineers and designers have been working on the past several weeks.

It is anticipated at that over the next two weeks the focus will be on high speed tests. That is why the sleigh will be in Sector 1 – there is lots of open water over the Pacific.

That means the possibility for trackers to spot Santa’s sleigh, day or night, over the next couple of weeks is very slim – unless they happen to be out in a boat over random areas of the Pacific.

Word from the Sleigh Barn is that versions 8 and 9 are already being worked on. They are awaiting results of the test flights of the next few weeks before adjustments are made and the next version is sent for testing.

Many questions have been sent in about Dasher and Prancer. We are happy to report that they are healthy and doing very well. It is not yet known how long they will stay assigned to the test flight team. No other reindeer adjustments are anticipated at this time.

Elf News Reporter at North Pole News Network
Elf Meg graduated from Southern North Pole University with a degree in journalism. For several years she was a star reporter for the North Pole Gazette and then briefly served as a producer for North Pole Radio News. She brings her experience in media to North Pole Flight Command, serving as both an Elf News Reporter for North Pole Radio News and Managing Editor of North Pole Flight Command.com
Elf Meg Nogg
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Dasher and Prancer, two of Santa’s elite A-team of reindeer, have been assigned duty with the test flight team, presently working over the skies of Sector 2 in Asia.

It has been decades since the test flight team has seen any of Santa’s starting reindeer. And back then such an assignment was usually made for training or rehabilitation duties related to the health of one of Santa’s team. But this time it is different.

This time it is classified. We cannot disclose at this time why Dasher and Prancer are being sent.

We will say that they will be performing special duties related to the latest version of the sleigh being tested. The sleigh has had many performance issues this year and some are growing concerned that this design will not be ready for Santa to fly this Christmas.

Dasher and Prancer will travel to Sector 2 and meet up with the test flight teams before the launch of the latest version of the sleigh.

How long they will be there and serving in this capacity is not known at this time.

As more news becomes available, we will inform you.

Elf News Reporter at North Pole News Network
Elf Meg graduated from Southern North Pole University with a degree in journalism. For several years she was a star reporter for the North Pole Gazette and then briefly served as a producer for North Pole Radio News. She brings her experience in media to North Pole Flight Command, serving as both an Elf News Reporter for North Pole Radio News and Managing Editor of North Pole Flight Command.com
Elf Meg Nogg
Latest posts by Elf Meg Nogg (see all)

Santa stunned the world at a press conference this year by announcing there would be no new recruiting goal for tracker elves. The focus would instead shift to the number of tracker reports filed this year in helping Santa track Santa for Santa.

The goal is 1 billion tracker reports.

So for us to be reporting a milestone of just 1 million tracker reports as of October 10th seems to be a little weak. However, you have to remember that tracker reports previously were usually all submitted after December 22nd. So 1 million reports by early October is actually quite significant.

What are elves reporting?

Right now, it is a lot of roof and chimney inspections. But in the weeks ahead I am hearing that North Pole Flight Command will be requiring more reports of trackers than ever before. In fact, I’m told the period from just after Halloween until about December 20th will be the heaviest reporting period of the year.

Yes, there will still be tracker reports needed after December 22nd and particularly in the early hours of December 24th.

But by spreading out the reports, assigning what can be done earlier, and focusing on the quality of the information shared with Santa that 1 billion good reports will be done to help get Santa around the world in record time with improved accuracy in delivery. That’s the goal.

Elf Roger Star, International Director of Santa Trackers, said he met with Santa this week before he headed out to Canada for Thanksgiving. Roger said Santa “was thrilled” with the 1-million report milestone.

How important is 1 billion reports if we only have 1 million by this point so far? Santa seems to think we are right on track.