Command and control at Christmas
Maintaining full situational awareness does not take a break at Christmas, with tracking Santa Claus being a major event each year.
Visiting each and every home to deliver presents to children around the globe is a major logistical challenge – particularly if you have just one night to do it…. Moreso if you are the only person doing the deliveries too!
“It might seem like I am the only person doing the work, but there’s a major team effort behind me all the way – before, during, and after Christmas morning,” Santa Claus told Systematic from the North Pole.
“From the elves making all the gifts and loading them into the sleigh in the right order, to my ground crews ensuring the sleigh is in good working order is a huge undertaking ahead of the big night. We then have the reindeer who pull a massive effort on the night itself to get me all around the globe. It is hard work, but a job we have been able to achieve every year.”
As the skies have grown busier over the years, it has meant that military command and control staff have been working to ensure full airspace deconflict between Santa’s annual operation and civil and military operations.
"As we have since 1955, this Dec. 24th we are once again ready for our no-fail mission of tracking Santa," US Air Force General Glen D. VanHerck, commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), said in a statement.
"Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, NORAD defends North America by tracking airplanes, missiles, space launches, and anything else that flies in or around the North American continent," General VanHerck added.
NORAD uses a variety of sensors, ranging from satellites, radars, and infra-red sensors to track Santa. US and Canadian fighter aircraft also escort Santa on his deliveries throughout the continent and ensure the safety of Santa on his important mission. Co-ordinating all this through an effective command-and-control system is a vital part of mission success as the air traffic picture has become increasingly complex.
Track-and-trace
Since 1955 the public has also been able to track Santa’s deliveries. Following a misprint in a Colorado newspaper, children began to call NORAD (then the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center) to speak to Santa and ask when they could expect him. Since then, NORAD has tracked Santa each year and provides updates for all.
Moving with technology, Santa can now be tracked online at: https://www.noradsanta.org/en/ or via the NORAD Tracks Santa App (click here for iOS, or click here for Android).
“Of course, you need to be asleep when I drop by,” Santa reminds readers. “So as much as I like you tracking me on the app or the website, make sure you are in bed and asleep so I can drop off my presents and enjoy the snacks that are left out for me.”
