US Air Force Brigadier General Richard Scobie, right, his son Andrew, centre, and wife, Janis, during the annual NORAD Tracks Santa Operation in 2012. Source: AP
THEY could lose him briefly over North Korea if the internet is on the blink, but trackers usually on alert for intercontinental missiles are standing ready today to follow Santaโs covert global mission.
The flight plan is yet to be announced, but Elf Launch Staff are expected to confirm Father Christmasโs departure from the North Pole about 9pm tonight, in all global time zones.
Usually responsible for keeping the US safe from attack, Norad, the North American Aerospace Defence Command, must also fit in another operation that has been conducted every year since 1958. The joint US-Canadian unit will be keeping up a tradition started by chance, helping children to monitor Santa on his present-delivering dash from the North Pole.
Norad will have 1250 uniformed and civilian volunteers on duty until 3am on Christmas Day to answer calls and emails from children around the world who are eager to know Santaโs exact location.
The service began after a newspaper advert for a department store accidentally misprinted the telephone number for children to call Santa, putting them through to the operational hotline of the commander-in-chief of air defences. Colonel Harry Shoup got staff to answer the calls, and the service has become such a phenomenon that the website noradsanta.org draws more than 22 million visitors per year.
The site suggests that 47 listening stations and satellites 22,300 miles above the earth will watch for evidence of the infra-red signature from Rudolphโs nose. United States air force F-18 fighter jets will attempt to escort Santaโs sleigh, although it will apparently have to slow down to let them stay alongside.
According to Norad, the โversatile all-weather multipurpose vertical short takeoff and landingโ sleigh can outrun the jets even though it bears a 60,000-tonne payload.
Children will be able to talk to trackers at Norad on 1-877-446-6723 or via email at noradtrackssanta@outlook.com.
