The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will celebrate its 66th year of tracking Santa Claus this Christmas Eve and the New York Air National Guardsmen and Royal Canadian Air Force personnel at the Eastern Air Defense Sector are ready to help.
“We're delighted to support NORAD's Santa tracking operations,” said Colonel Paul M. Bishop, EADS Commander.
“I can assure everyone that EADS will do everything in its power to assist Santa with his critical mission."
The NORAD Tracks Santa website, www.noradsanta.org, launched December 1 and features Santa’s North Pole Village, a holiday countdown, games, a movie theater, holiday music, webstore and more.
The official NORAD Tracks Santa app is also in the Apple App and Google Play stores, so parents and children can count down the days until Santa's launch on heir smart phones and tables.
Tracking opportunities are also offered through social media on Facebook, Twitter YouTube and Instagram.
Starting at 4am on December 24, website visitors can see updates as Santa makes preparations for his flight.
Then, at 6am, children and parents can call to inquire about Santa by dialing the toll-free number 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723), where they will either speak to a live phone operator or hear a recorded update.
Due to COVID concerns, the NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center will have fewer phone operators, so callers who not reach a volunteer with hear a regularly updated recording as to Santa’s current location.
Tracking Santa has been a tradition since 1955 when a local newspaper advertisement informed children they could call Santa directly—but the contact number was misprinted.
Instead of reaching Santa, the phone rang through to the crew commander on duty, US Air Force Colonel Harry Shoup, at the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center, the predecessor to NORAD.
Colonel Shoup was quick to realize a mistake had been made and assured the child he was Santa.
Colonel Shoup then assigned a duty officer to continue answering calls, and a holiday tradition was born.
Each year since, NORAD has reported Santa’s location on December 24 to millions of children and families around the world.