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FAA's NextGen - Santa One Emblem
FAA NextGen Santa One

FAA's NextGen - Santa One Emblem
Active 2010 - present
Country United States of America
Type Public Service Program
Role Two (2) important roles: 1) Provide educational and fun filled holiday entertainment, and 2) Inspire children and the young at heart around the world to think about how aerospace technology play an increasingly important role in our daily lives.
Garrison/HQ (2010 - Present) Washington, D.C., United States of America;
Anniversaries December 24, Christmas Eve


The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration ensured in 2010 and 2011 that Santa’s sleigh (known as "Santa One") was certified for flight with NextGen technology, and in cooperation with Airservices Australia with ADS-B technolgy, so that he can fly more efficiently and make gliding type landings onto rooftops. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many Santa One is built upon the proven technology of Santa’s Sleigh in the NORAD Tracks Santa FAQs and the OnStar technology used in the Star Duster 5000 sleigh.

Transport Canada for several years now also inspects Santa’s sleigh and its safety system,s as well as administers regular medical tests on Santa Claus in order for Santa to keep his Canadian flight license. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many Air Transport Canada is involved for several reasons:


2010

In 2010, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration tells the story of how Santa Claus uses Santa’s sleigh (known as "Santa One") in conjunction with NextGen.


Cleared for Takeoff

This year (2010) Santa is going to deliver his presents faster than ever before. The FAA has certified Santa's new sleigh, Santa One, for takeoff on Christmas Eve. As Santa makes his way around the globe, he'll be landing on the rooftops using new techniques and technologies we've developed.


FAA Santa – Slide1

Cleared for Takeoff


A Brighter Red Nose

The new sleigh comes with NextGen equipment that shows air traffic controllers Santa's position more precisely. The controllers can now direct Santa to all those houses much faster. That means more time for Santa to stay and enjoy some milk and cookies.


FAA Santa – Slide2

A Brighter Red Nose


A New Approach

In the past, Santa's sleigh had to "step down" while landing, kind of like going down stairs. But when air traffic controllers working the North Pole clear Santa One for landing now, Santa will be gliding down onto rooftops. This will be faster, save fuel and guarantee that presents are delivered up to 53 percent faster than in previous years.


FAA Santa – Slide3

A New Approach


Santa’s Tracks

Next year (2011), Santa will be even faster, and the year after that (2012), faster still. That's because Santa is employing NextGen techniques and technologies that the FAA is building to help planes get to their destinations quicker than ever before. That means Santa will be back home to the North Pole in no time, working with his elves on next year's Christmas.


FAA Santa – Slide4

Santa’s Tracks


FAA NextGen Gate to Gate Video


FAA NextGen Gate to Gate Video.


Overheard

Administrator Randy Babbitt

"With NextGen, we're safer, we're more efficient, and we're a whole lot more green than we are right now. Pick any one of those, and the business case for NextGen stands on its own. All three together are a slam dunk."


Deputy Administrator Michael Huerta

"The concept of NextGen is in some ways similar to the concept of putting a man on the moon. We know we can do it. We know we have the technology. And now we are working to design the sequence for the technology and the exact procedures we will use."


Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety Peggy Gilligan

"This is a time of innovation and new ideas. It's a time to look at what we do and how we do it and find ways to work smarter and become more efficient."


2011 - Santa Flies Again

Last year (2010) we (U.S. Federal Aviation Administration) showed you some of the benefits that Santa is getting from NextGen technology.

This year (2011) we're (U.S. Federal Aviation Administration) going to show you even more how his NextGen-equipped sleigh, Santa One, is helping Santa deliver more presents across the world.

You will also find educational puzzles (for elementary and middle school students), a link to track Santa (at NORAD) and Santa's approved flight plan.

According to the FAA news release of December 22, 2011, NextGen technology available at that time had these benefits: Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many

“The satellite-based technology the elves have installed on Santa One will ensure that Santa stays safe and reaches all of his rooftops on time,” said United States Department of Transportation Ray LaHood. “As a result of this improved technology, Santa will be able to deliver more presents to more children around the world.”

Santa One, which will cruise at an altitude of 50,000 feet – far higher than commercial aircraft – will be able to fly faster, more efficient routes from cruising altitude to rooftops.

Special, gumdrop-enhanced avionics installed in Rudolph’s red nose will make it 10 times brighter, allowing the elves to track Santa One even during the type of heavy snowfall expected this Christmas. Elves in an air traffic control tower on the top of the North Pole will keep Santa One safely separated from other aircraft using Candy Cane Satellite Surveillance-Broadcast, an enhancement of the FAA’s satellite-based system called Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast.

The faster routes are much better for the environment because the team of nine reindeer will consume fewer carrots this Christmas Eve. In the past, each of the nine reindeer has consumed an average of 24 pounds of carrots per hour during the 10-hour voyage, with Rudolph consuming 28 to 30 pounds. The improved efficiency means reindeer will consume 1,080 fewer pounds of carrots this year. The trickle-down effect is expected to benefit the Easter Bunny.

The expected increase in present delivery has also improved the economy at the North Pole, since more elves are needed to make the gifts. The upward trend in gift-giving has, in turn, driven up hiring by 50 percent.


The Santa One Story

The Santa One Story - Introduction

How NextGen technology helps Santa's sleigh, the Santa One, navigate the skies.

2011 - FAA Santa – The Santa One Story - Introduction


Predictability - Part 1

Rudolph's Nose Now 10 Times Brighter!

2011 - FAA Santa – Predictability - Part 1


Predictability - Part 2

Enhanced Gumdrop Positioning System means weather in NextGen areas is no longer a problem. Continuous precision routes remove delays and more time for milk & cookies.

2011 - FAA Santa – Predictability - Part 2


Economy - Part 1

North Pole Hiring Up 50%!

2011 - FAA Santa – Economy - Part 1


Economy - Part 2

Faster, more efficient flights means more presents. More presents means more jobs for elves.

2011 - FAA Santa – Economy - Part 2


Safety - Part 1

Candy Cane Satellite Surveillance (CCSS) Now Operational !

2011 - FAA Santa – Safety - Part 1


Safety - Part 2

Santa's tower control elves can now route Santa safely and efficiently from house to house.

2011 - FAA Santa – Safety - Part 2


Environmental - Part 1

Reindeer Carrot Consumption Slashed !

2011 - FAA Santa – Environmental - Part 1


Environmental - Part 2

Getting from house to house faster means reindeer don't need to be fed as much !

2011 - FAA Santa – Environmental - Part 2


The Santa One Story - Conclusion

Merry Christmas!

2011 - FAA Santa – The Santa One Story - Conclusion


Links to Next Gen - NORAD Tracks Santa - Santa One Education

Links to Next Gen - NORAD Tracks Santa - Santa One Education
2011 FAA Next Gen
2011 NORAD Tracks Santa
2011 Santa One Education
FAA Next Gen 2011 NORAD Tracks Santa FAA - Santa One Education - 2011


The Santa One Story: Questions for Students

Questions for Elementary School Students

Question 1
Question 1 for Elementary School Students
Question Answer
2011 Question 1 for Elementary School Students
Your favorite aunt is flying to your house for Christmas. She's coming from San Francisco to Buffalo. It's a 5 hour flight and she lives 3,060 miles away from you. How fast does the plane go? Distance ÷ Time = Speed

3060 miles ÷ 5 hours = 612mph


Question 2
Question 2 for Elementary School Students
Question Answer
2011 Question 2 for Elementary School Students
On the last day of the Twelve Days of Christmas, how many gifts did the 'True Love' receive? (Partridge in a Pear Tree, 2 Turtle Doves, 3 French Hens, 4 Calling Birds, 5 Golden Rings etc.) 1 Partridge + 2 Turtledoves + 3 French Hens + 4 Calling Birds + 5 Golden Rings + 6 Geese + 7 Swans + 8 Maids + 9 Ladies + 10 Lords + 11 Pipers + 12 Drummers = 78 Gifts


Question 3
Question 3 for Elementary School Students
Question Answer
2011 Question 3 for Elementary School Students
Your Uncle gave you a gift certificate for $50. You are going to try to spend every penny! Your choices are: Airplane Model: $12, Helicopter Model: $14, Aviation Book: $22. What will you buy to come as close as possible to spending all of your $50? 2 × Helicopter Model = $28.00

+ 1 × Aviation Book = $22.00


Total = $50.00


Questions for Middle School Students

Question 1
Question 1 for Middle School Students
Question Answer
2011 Question 1 for Middle School Students
Santa flies three times as fast as a plane, but only two-thirds as fast as jet. If a plane flies 320 miles in four hours, at what speed per hour do each of the three fly? Distance ÷ Time = Speed

Plane = 320 miles ÷ 4 hours = 80mph

Santa = Plane speed × 3 = 240mph

Jet = (Santa speed × 3) ÷ 2 = 360mph


Question 2
Question 2 for Middle School Students
Question Answer
2011 Question 2 for Middle School Students
Santa has been working on his flying skills. He flies roundtrip between two cities that are 252 miles apart. He flies four round trips every night. How many miles does he fly in a week? 252 miles

× (4 outbound trips + 4 return trips) × 7 nights = 14112 miles


Question 3
Question 3 for Middle School Students
Question Answer
2011 Question 3 for Middle School Students
Santa plans to leave Los Angeles at 7:00 P.M. on Christmas Eve. It will take him four hours to fly to Washington DC. What time will it be on the East Coast when Santa arrives in DC? 7:00 PM Pacific is 10:00 PM Eastern on Christmas Eve.

10:00 PM plus 4 hours of flight time is 2:00 AM Eastern on Christmas Day.


Question 4
Question 4 for Middle School Students
Question Answer
2011 Question 4 for Middle School Students
What is the ratio (fraction) of birds to the total number of items received on the last day of the Twelve Days of Christmas? 1 Partridge + 2 Doves + 3 Hens + 4 Birds + 6 Geese + 7 Swans = 23 Birds

1 Partridge + 2 Doves + 3 Hens + 4 Birds + 5 Rings + 6 Geese + 7 Swans + 8 Maids + 9 Ladies + 10 Lords + 11 Pipers + 12 Drummers = 78 Gifts

Ratio = 23/78


Question 5
Question 5 for Middle School Students
Question Answer
2011 Question 5 for Middle School Students
Mrs. Claus needs to feed the reindeer. She buys 2 pounds of food per day per reindeer. How much food does she need for December? 31 days in December × 9 Reinder × 2 pounds = 558 pounds


We Build Our Future Video

We (the United States of America) have continually built the infrastructure necessary to remain a great nation. NextGen is the natural evolution of infrastructure necessary to meet the aviation needs of the future.


FAA We Build Our Future Video.



A Very Next Gen Christmas Video

See how new NextGen procedures could have slashed travel times during a particularly difficult Christmas Eve weather situation.




FAA Flight Plan # 122511

2011 - FAA Flight Plan No 122511


References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Santa Claus a Canadian, immigration minister reaffirms Broadcast by Kenyon Wallace on December 22, 2010" (in en). National Post. http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/12/22/santa-claus-a-canadian-immigration-minister-reaffirms/. Retrieved 2011-01-15. 
  2. "Santa Claus declared a Canadian on December 23, 2008" (in en). Toronto Sun. http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2008/12/23/7839591.html. Retrieved 2011-01-15. 
  3. "Santa Jumps Through Canada’s Citizenship Hoops by George Abraham on December 31, 2008" (in en). Khaleej Times. http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/opinion/2008/December/opinion_December126.xml&section=opinion&col=. Retrieved 2011-01-15. 
  4. "Do super storms indicate that earth’s magnetic polarity is about to switch? - February 8, 2011" (in en). The k2p blog. http://ktwop.wordpress.com/tag/north-magnetic-pole/. Retrieved 2012-01-15. 
  5. "Geological Survey of Canada - Geomagnetism - Long Term Movement of the North Magnetic Pole - Introduction" (in en). Canada Federal Government - Natural Resources Canada. http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/geomag/nmp/long_mvt_nmp_e.php. Retrieved 2011-01-31. 
  6. "Canada Presses Claims Over a Chunk of Arctic - by Chip Cummings - September 28, 2011" (in en). Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904265504576566802209872890.html. Retrieved 2011-01-15. 
  7. "Canada Claims Ocean Ice" (in en). Athropolis Productions Limited. http://www.athropolis.com/arctic-facts/fact-north-pole-canada.htm. Retrieved 2011-01-15. 


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