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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Launch check has begun at Regional Tracking Centers worldwide. This is a process where all things are checked to make sure it is clear for Santa to enter the airspace of each sector and deliver as he has traditionally done.

This process actually takes many months to accomplish and it begins with discussions between the North Pole State Department and local authorities. There are permits, flight plans and other logistical details that are worked out well in advance.

This process today is a check of the entire list of requirements and each Regional Tracking Center has to give their own “go for launch” signal before it enters what we call the Red Zone.

The Red Zone is a period of time where Santa is expected to be in flight within the sector. All sectors work hard to get into the Red Zone. When that is declared, they are officially put on the clock as they switch from getting ready for Santa to fly to actively tracking his flight path and activities.

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 have ended. In an announcement made by Santa to his Tracker Elves it was explained that the test pilots, reindeer and sleighs will wrap up their current flights over Alaska today and head home to the North Pole.

Just one final test flight of Santa’s sleigh remains, the one scheduled December 23rd in the hours before Santa’s launch.

Santa mentioned that the test flights are ending due to continual hacks of North Pole Internet operations and that to lock down systems it was prudent to end the flights. The sleigh was only on Version 2, and it has been in test flight mode since last June.

“We are confident in the abilities of this sleigh,” said Elf Roger Star, Director of North Pole Flight Command, “Never in history have we have a sleigh design that has performed as well as this one. Speed records have been set. Altitude records have been set. We see unprecedented maneuverability with this sleigh and outstanding performance in every way. With this sleigh Santa is well equipped to take his ride this year.”

Despite the ending of test flights there are a lot of things yet to be accomplished before Santa launches next week.

Stay tuned.

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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The North Pole Navy has started their repositioning mission to be in place ahead of Santa’s flight. Orders were passed to the fleet today via North Pole Flight Command. This is where they are headed:

SS Jingle Bell – Headed to the North Pacific
SS Snowball – Steaming towards the South Pacific
SS Tannenbaum – Destined for the Gulf of Mexico
SS Donner – Staying in the mid-Atlantic
SS Eggnog – Headed for the Indian Ocean
SS Mistletoe – To ne anchored in the Philippine Sea
SS Frosty – Steaming to the Bay of Bengal

There are several smaller vessels that will be working as part of Operation Merry Christmas this year. We do not know their name, their number nor their destinations yet.

The North Pole Navy positions these ships to support flight operations and to serve as mobile, back-up Regional Tracking Centers.

Their movement is coordinated with the efforts of Operation Airlift, a deployment of thousands of freighter sleighs, scout teams and other support aircraft that fly both in advance of and during Santa’s flight.

We will keep you posted on this breaking story.

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)

With Santa taking flight in less than two weeks the North Pole State Department continues to work with various governments to allow Santa access across borders.

North Pole Flight Command coordinates with governments, military units and airports to arrange for Santa to fly over sovereign airspace. Santa’s flight is known well in advance and has traditionally never run into problems flying every Christmas Eve, yet the State Department works to take care of permitting issues and to work out communication procedures just so there is no confusion come flight time.

The world is in an “agitated state” these days, according to Elf  Francisco Doyle, a spokesperson for the State Department. “We don’t want any surprises. We tell them Santa’s plan for their country and ask permission long before Santa flies.”

While the State Department will not give specific details, they say they still have about a dozen countries to get final clearance from so that Santa can fly there.

They do not anticipate any problems getting that clearance.