With Christmas fast approaching, Airservices Australia’s highly skilled air traffic controllers are working closely with Santa Claus to map out his top-secret flight plan and guide his sleigh safely and efficiently through Australian airspace on Christmas Eve.
Check out Airservices’ exclusive Santa video here (and above).
Commencing his global circumnavigation in the Pacific Islands and New Zealand, Santa’s sleigh under the call sign “Red One” will enter Australian airspace overnight near Norfolk Island before zig-zagging across the nation to deliver presents. After ensuring every stop is made before the sun rises, he’ll exit Australian airspace via the Cocos Islands.
To ensure a smooth journey, Airservices has also issued a special flight operations notice, known as a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), providing all pilots with critical updates to clear the way for Santa’s magical flight.
Airservices Interim CEO Rob Sharp said the organisation was honoured to help Santa and his crew of reindeer to navigate Australian skies again this year.
“With state-of-the-art surveillance technology tracking his sleigh twice every second, Santa can count on us to ensure a safe and efficient journey. The details of his route, of course, remain classified as Top Secret Santa (TSS) business,” he said.
With 24/7 coverage of 11 per cent of the world’s airspace, safety is paramount for Airservices – and this extends to safeguarding Santa’s sleigh. ATCs, engineers, technicians, and aviation rescue firefighters are working together to ensure everything runs smoothly for this magical mission.
“Santa will be in excellent hands this festive season,” Mr Sharp added. “Our team will expertly guide him through tight turns, descents, and even the occasional rooftop skim to ensure he reaches every child on time. Now, all that’s left is for everyone to get to bed early on Christmas Eve so Santa can do his work.”
Keep an eye on Santa’s dedicated Airservices Facebook page from 13 December to see our preparations for the arrival of Red One.
About Airservices
Airservices Australia is a government-owned organisation responsible for safely and efficiently managing air traffic in 11 per cent of the world’s airspace, as well as the provision of aviation rescue fire fighting services at Australia’s busiest airports. We are regulated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and work closely with our customers and industry to support the long-term growth of the aviation industry.
