Final preparations underway for Santa’s visit
24-12-2011 -Airservices air traffic controllers are making their final preparations ahead of Santa’s visit through Australian airspace this evening.
Working with meteorologists in Airservices National Operations Centre, we will be providing Santa with the latest weather information to allow him to have as smooth a ride as possible.
Airservices spokesman Matt Wardell said that our National Operations Centre plays a key strategic role in the management of air traffic and was well placed to make sure that Santa gets a clear run on Christmas Eve.
“This year Santa is also using satellite-based technology called Smart Tracking which will enable him to fly with greater accuracy than ever before,” Mr Wardell said.
“This will help ensure Santa is able to get to all of the places he needs to visit by the most direct, safest and efficient route without tiring out the reindeer.”
Air traffic controllers will know exactly where Santa is at any given time as his sleigh will broadcast his call-sign, position, altitude, velocity and other data twice per second.
“Christmas Eve is not only a busy evening for Santa who has about eight million homes to visit in Australia, but it will also be a busy night for air traffic controllers as they make sure that Santa has a clear flight path and is given priority over other traffic,” Mr Wardell said.
Santa is expected to conduct more landings and take-offs this evening than commercial aircraft make in Australia each year.
How to track Santa
• Airservices 2011 website www.airservicesaustralia.com/santa11
• Airservices tracks Santa www.facebook.com/airservicessanta11
• AirservicesTV www.youtube.com/user/airservicestv
• AirservicesNews www.twitter.com/airservicesnews
Airservices representatives will be available for interviews until 6pm AEST today.
Media can download high resolution photographs and broadcast quality audio grabs at http://newsroom.airservicesaustralia.com (please register for access). Audio grabs have been provided for Christmas Day.
For media inquiries contact Airservices Media on (02) 6257 2828 or by emailing media@airservicesaustralia.com Get the latest news and updates via our Twitter account: @AirservicesNews.
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