Local NORAD officials ready for Santa's trek across Canada

Tomorrow (Christmas Eve) is a big day for Santa and local NORAD officials at 22 Wing CFB North Bay.

Major Todd Walter is Mission Crew and Alpha Flight Commander at 21 Squadron Air Defence Sector.

He says they’re getting ready to help Santa make his trek across Canada.

“It’s exciting times up here, the holiday magic, things that you only imagine as a kid, being involved in Santa’s flight across the country,” he says.

Major Walter says with NORAD they watch North American skies 24-7 and notes that Santa doesn’t file a flight plan.

That means he’ll enter Canadian airspace as an ‘unknown track’.

“We just don’t know exactly which route he’s going to fly, but we send CF-18 Fighter Jets out to do a visual identification and ensure everything is safe. They carry on to escort him across half the country and then hand him off to fighters from Cold Lake, Alberta,” Major Walter says.

Children and their families can track Santa’s journey:
– Online at noradsanta.org
– By calling the toll-free telephone number1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723)
– Or send an email to noradtrackssanta@outlook.com