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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Santa’s reindeer are today getting full physicals in advance of Santa’s big flight next week.

This is a routine procedure. It is required of all reindeer serving in Operation Merry Christmas and it is no exception even for Santa’s reindeer. Guidelines at the North Pole require the physical to ensure the reindeer are fit for Christmas duty. Santa does not want to risk injury or illness for any reindeer.

Most reindeer have already had their physicals this past week. Santa’s A-team of reindeer typically are among the last to receive it because they have the most important duty on Christmas Eve – to get Santa around the world.

Some have worried about Vixen, who a few weeks ago was slightly injured in a training exercise. Doctors have already cleared Vixen for flight next week and according to handlers in Reindeer Operations she is 100%.

There are no surprises expected of the physicals. Some time in the next several days the reindeer assignment list will be published, but the physicals must be completed before that can happen.

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)

In an usual turn of events all top elves at North Pole Flight Command have been summoned for a meeting on Saturday. Saturday marks one week until Christmas Eve.

The test flights of Santa’s sleigh are usually more or less over by now. The tracker map at SantaTrackers.net presently shows the test flights over the UK. It is unknown where they are headed next.

It is unlikely that High Command will be discussing the sleigh’s flight plan. The test flight operations team takes care of that detail and it is based upon how the sleigh is responding and in weather conditions that it needs to be tested in.

Rumors have run rampant at the North Pole, especially in Flight Command, that the sleigh has either a 12th version that will be tested or even that the sleigh itself will be retired and taken up again next season.

If that were to happen, Santa does have a backup plan. Though classified, it is assumed by most that Santa would use the record-setting sleigh from last year as his vehicle of choice for this season.

We remind you that these are just rumors. As far as we officially know, the current version of the sleigh is the one Santa will use and that test flights have been satisfactory.

Will Santa be involved in Saturday’s meeting? That is information we do not presently know.

We will keep you updated.

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)

The test flights of Santa’s sleigh will now only fly at night. Given that Santa’s flight is less than 12 days away, this move does not come as a surprise.

“Night flight testing is crucial because Santa spends his entire flight in the dark, no matter where he is,” says Elf Buck Sanchez, Flight Director at the North Pole. It is typical for the test flights to switch to all-night flying at this point in the calendar.

But some elves in Flight Command also see this move as a good indicator that things are improving with Santa’s sleigh. By switching to night flights many are thinking the sleigh must be performing acceptably. We have not received any confirmation of this however and the actual performance of Santa’s sleigh is right now being regarded as privileged information.

Version 11 of Santa’s sleigh has been functioning for over two weeks now.

We do not know if another version of the sleigh is expected to be tested. We have heard from elves in the Research and Development Department that version 12 of the sleigh has been constructed and is just awaiting decision on its deployment.