NORTH BAY -- class="p1" style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> With only five days until Christmas, Santa Claus is set to make his yearly journey around the world delivering gifts to good little boys and girls.
Over at 22 Wing/Canadian Forces Base North Bay, American and Canadian members of NORAD are preparing for his arrival.
Since 1983, 22 Wing/CFB North Bay has been the team responsible for tracking Santa in Canada.
The crew of 21 Aerospace Control and Warning Squadron's Voodoo Flight conducted a practice run to ensure they are fully prepared to track Santa and his trusty reindeer when they enter Canadian air space.
"To prepare for Santa Claus' arrival on the twenty fourth, we have our methods in place," said Aviator Stephane Jacques.
The crew will be tasked with finding and tracking Santa using radars, satellites and infrared sensors.
Once he is located, Santa will be escorted by RCAF CF-18 jets from Bagotville, Quebec and Cold Lake, Alberta.
"We'll have our fighters in place so we can escort him safely and we'll have the manning that we need on the floor in order to take any calls and make sure he's safe on his trip," said Jacques.
NORAD has been tracking Santa since Dec. 24, 1955.
Children in Colorado Springs called the Air Operations Center for Santa Claus' location by accident because there was a misprint in a local newspaper ad. The phone number rang into the Continental Air Defense Command now referred to as NORAD. The operators gave the children Santa's location and the tradition carried on.
The NORAD Tracks Santa website is live and is available in eight languages.
It features Santa’s North Pole Village, which includes a holiday countdown, games, activities, and more.
There won't be as many people taking calls or in the operations room this Christmas Eve because of COVID-19 restrictions.
However, those who wish to speak with the men and women on duty can call 1-877-HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) or email noradtrackssanta@outlook.com.
