Fed: Authorities clear Santa through Australian airspace

AAP General News (Australia)
12-20-2005
Fed: Authorities clear Santa through Australian airspace

CANBERRA, Dec 20 AAP - Santa is ready to roll with his annual delivery of Christmas
presents to Australian children thanks to some help from aviation authorities.

Santa Claus had lodged his preliminary flight plan for the Australian leg of his Christmas
Eve global operation, Airservices Australia said today.

But this year it is understood he has installed new navigation and tracking technology
known as Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast, which should allow air traffic controllers
their best ever analysis of the flight.

"Airservices Australia is trying to ensure safe and efficient passage for Santa through
Australian Airspace this Christmas," an Airservices spokesman said.

"We are responding to a direct request from Santa, as in recent years his job has become
increasingly more difficult with heavier loads and time constraints.

"As with previous years, we will be monitoring Santa's flight but will be giving him
a fairly free rein around Australian airspace.

"Our main job will be to keep all other aircraft away from him, so he can get through
his incredibly tight schedule and we can concentrate on getting everybody to their destinations."

The spokesman said Santa had opted to use a Flex Track flight path to help take advantage
of high-level tail winds, reducing reindeer energy consumption and cutting his overall
flight time.

Airservices has developed a new website to help the children and mums and dads check
Santa's pre-Christmas activities and his global delivery flight into Australia.

The site, at www.airservicesaustralia.com/santa05, already contains updates from air
traffic controllers in the Northern Hemisphere on unusual airborne activity around the
North Pole.

AAP jcg/bt/maur/bwl

KEYWORD: XMAS SANTA

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