NextGen Santa Cleared by FAA for Around the World Flight

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety inspectors, who are working closely with elves on-site, cleared the Santa One sleigh and Candy Cane One to deliver toys to boys and girls throughout the world who’ve been good for goodness sake.

“Because so many boys and girls were nice – not naughty – this year, Santa needs Candy Cane One, a jumbo cargo jet, to resupply him tonight,” said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “He made a list and, after checking it twice, realized Santa One wasn’t going to be big enough.”

Santa One and Candy Cane One are both equipped with state-of-the-art, satellite-based NextGen avionics that will enable them to fly more directly from the North Pole to the homes of those who don’t pout or cry. The time saved through more efficient flight paths will ensure that everyone who’s sleeping will get their presents. Both Santa One, powered by Rudolph and the rest of the reindeer, and Candy Cane One will, as a result, burn fewer carrots and less fuel, reducing emissions and lessening aviation’s hoof print on the environment.

“Santa told me he’s really looking forward to making the Optimized Profile Descents from cruising altitude to the rooftops, which is just like sliding down a banister instead of making the traditional staircase descent required by ground-based navigational aids,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “He’s had a lot of practice over the years sliding down banisters as he delivers gifts around the world.”

Due to the steep pitch of some roofs, Santa occasionally jumps from Santa One directly into a chimney while Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen hover nearby. At those moments, Santa One becomes an Unmanned Aircraft System, but the FAA has granted authority for Santa to conduct these operations, confident that he will abide by agency regulations. Rudolph will simply wait for Santa to emerge from the chimney since it’s illegal to call him on a cellphone or text while flying. The other reindeer, however, will pass the time by watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” on their portable electronic devices.

If you’ve been good – but only if you’ve been good – you may click here to see how Santa is relying on NextGen: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxj6N_DZe5E.

You may also learn more about NextGen Santa by clicking the button for the app at www.faa.gov/nextgen.