I wish everyone a Merry Christmas. WEN
*********************** NORTH AMERICAN AEROSPACE DEFENSE COMMAND Directorate of Public Affairs, Headquarters, North American Aerospace Defense Command 250 S. Peterson Blvd, Suite 116, Peterson AFB, Colo. 80914-3190 Phone: (719) 554-6889 DSN: 692-6889 NORAD Web Site Address: www.norad.mil and www.noradsanta.org December 4, 2002 NORAD CONFIRMS SANTA SLEIGH TEST FLIGHT NORAD Headquarters, Peterson AFB, Colo: North Pole and NORAD officials have reached an unprecedented agreement allowing the men and women of NORAD to conduct a full-blown test flight with Santa and all nine reindeer on December 18, 2002. "We did a small-scale test last year, but used only two of our four methods of Santa Tracking - the test lasted just a few minutes," said Major-General Eric Findley, NORAD Director of Operations. "This year we will test three of the four methods of our tracking system. The test is scheduled to last 30 minutes and will definitely add to our precision tracking of Santa Claus." The NORAD Santa sleigh-test flight will begin with lift off at the North Pole; NORAD radar will detect Santa mere seconds after his lift off. After that, Santa will zip over the Northwest Territories to the Yukon. About 200 miles (320 kilometres) from the Yukon-Alaskan border, two CF-18s from Canada's Air Force will intercept and escort Santa to Alaska where they will hand off to two American F-15s. The F-15s will fly with Santa for 200 miles, at which time Santa will increase his speed to Christmas-Eve-Velocity en route back to the North Pole. From lift off until Santa's return to the North Pole, NORAD will test the satellite systems to track the infrared signature of Rudolph's bright nose. The famous fourth method of Santa Tracking - SantaCams - will not be used in the Santa sleigh-test as they are currently being deployed around the world in preparation for Christmas Eve. Media wishing to make the arduous trek to the North Pole to witness the NORAD Santa sleigh-test flight are requested to call Major Douglas Martin, Chief of NORAD Santa Tracking Operations, to reserve one of the limited seats aboard our C-464646 Santa Craft. Media can pre-tape interviews about NORAD tracking Santa or pre-arrange Christmas Eve live interviews with NORAD personnel by calling 719-554-6889. Additional information on NORAD is available at www.norad.mil or about NORAD and Santa at wwww.noradsanta.org IWS INFOCON Mailing List @ IWS - The Information Warfare Site http://www.iwar.org.uk
