NORAD once again to track Santa's Christmas Eve trek through New Jersey

BY ERIC MODEL

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

JOURNEYS INTO NEW JERSEY

On Christmas Eve children all around the world will again expectantly await the arrival of Santa Claus.

For generations, kids have looked to the skies or to the fireplace to see if St. Nick was on the way. In the 21st century, this generation's kids are as likely to look at a computer screen or WiFi device in search of Kris Kringle thanks to a bi-national air defense command that has been tracking Santa for over 50 years.

"NORAD Tracks Santa" is an annual Christmas-themed entertainment program produced under the auspices of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Every year on December 24, NORAD Tracks Santa follows Santa Claus as he leaves the North Pole and delivers presents to children around the world. The program starts on December 1 with a "Countdown Village" website.

The NORAD Tracks Santa program got its start in 1955 when the Air Force's Continental Air Defense in Colorado Springs was responsible only for protecting the airspace above the United States. A local department store advertised a hotline for the kids to use to call Santa Claus. But the number was misprinted. Instead it was the number for the Continental Air Defense Director of Operations Col. Harry Shoup.

A six-year old boy called Shoup's number and recited his Christmas list. Then more calls began coming in. Shoup instructed his staff to update each child caller on Santa's location as he flew around the world. Out of that wrong number has come what is now a Christmas-season tradition as the Command has ever since tracked Santa as he rides his sleigh across the globe to deliver gifts to boys and girls on the Nice List. When NORAD was formed by Canada and the United States in 1958 the tradition was continued.

NORAD says they use several tracking systems to keep an eye on Father Christmas – including some 27 Santa Cams, satellites and airborne assets.

For years the Santa tracking employed a toll-free phone number that was answered by volunteers from the military and their families. In 1997 the Santa Tracking effort moved to the Internet. Computer users could sign-on and get a map showing Santa's location, as well as view computer-generated graphics that show Saint Nick being escorted into North American airspace by CF-18 fighters, flying past the International Space Station, or cruising above and American aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf.

Because Santa travels with a group of reindeer, infrared sensors are positioned on satellites to follow every movement. NORAD says that they are helped in their effort by Rudolph's red nose.

The current Santa Tracking System employs the Google Earth program, to provide an update of Santa's location at all times. It is frequently televised on local and national news networks as well as the Weather Channel.

The Canadian Air Defence Sector Operations Centre at 22 Wing North Bay will use satellite and radar systems to alert NORAD when Santa enters Canadian airspace.

In addition to the satellites in the sky and the monitors on the ground, NORAD assets and pilots are sent to the air as well.

For example, routinely two Canadian CF-18 Hornet fighter jets from 3 Wing Bagotville will meet Santa as he enters Canadian airspace off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. As Santa flies across North America from east to west, two other CF-18 Hornets from 4 Wing Cold Lake will escort him out of Canadian airspace and turn over escort duties to the Continental US NORAD Region so that he may continue his Yuletide trip.

Among those helping on the U.S. side of the border are members from the Northeast Air Defense Sector, a New York Air National Guard unit, will track Santa Claus to provide him safe passage over the eastern U.S. and Canada this Christmas Eve.

To ensure Santa is safe and on schedule, the U.S. Air National Guard will ensure that their alert fighter aircraft are prepared to fly and help Santa at a moment's notice, if needed. And in case of poor flying weather, Saint Nick is provided navigation and guidance assistance.

Notwithstanding all these interesting tidbits, we found very little as it relates to Santa's course through New Jersey. Seeking additional insight, we reached out to NORAD headquarters in Colorado and were put in touch with Lieutenant Commander Bill Lewis, who grew up in New Jersey (Franklin Township) and still has family in the area.

Lt. Lewis was not in a position to provide us a specific itinerary other than confirming that it is certified by the FAA, but by tradition, he said, Santa enters the Garden State after visiting Long Island and the five boroughs of New York City.

According to Lt. Lewis, Mr. Claus "crisscrosses the state" before entering Pennsylvania airspace.

"Santa is his own man," relayed the NORAD official. "He does what he needs to do for safe passage and as we are mission oriented in our everyday tasks, we help him achieve his mission that night."

Although he has been in the service for over 20 years and has lived in many places, Lt. Lewis goes an extra mile to help make sure that Santa is safe and on time for the N.J. part of his trek, so as not to disappoint Garden State kids.

Interestingly, in this post 9-11 era of heightened tension and vigilance on issues of homeland security, for at least one evening, a spirit of good faith dominants in the skies and on the ground.

"This is a mission unlike any for us. Santa brings good will to all – us and our counterparts around the world included."

At the same time professionals like Lt. Lewis take their Santa duty seriously.

"This Santa-tracking tradition as been in existence for years and we take great pride in being able to continue the tradition," once said Col. Clark Speicher, a commander involved in the project. "We feel it is an important part of our homeland defense mission to ensure that Santa is able to fulfill his important mission of delivering toys and prepared to help ensure he delivers toys safely."

We're remain more than just a little bit mystified by just how Santa gets it all done – delivering all those presents to all those children. But answers to those lingering questions must await a different (and perhaps more investigatory) article.

For now there's one final word of caution from Lt. Lewis. He warns that no matter what, if children are not safely in bed and tucked in, Santa will pass their homes. So as the famous song reminds us, "you better watch out," whether one chooses by looking to the sky, the chimney and or a computer screen.

Eric Model explores the "offbeat, off the beaten path overlooked and forgotten" on SIRIUS-XM Radio and at journeysinto.com.