AWACS mission: Track Santa

  • Published
  • By Capt. Bob Krause
  • 552 Air Control Wing Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AFPN) --  Members of the 552nd Air Control Wing will provide support to one of the North Pole's most notable residents this year -- Santa and his team of flying reindeer.

Slightly before midnight on Christmas Eve, an E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control systems aircraft and crew will leave here on one of its most important missions of the year -- operation Track Santa, also known here as Operation Just Clause.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command Track Santa Program  requested AWACS support for the operation, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

"We provide the unique ability to flight-follow right with Santa," said Kyle Mullen, 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron mission crew commander. "We're going to make sure he gets where he needs to go and gets the toys to the kids."

Previously considered sensitive information, AWACS crews are for the first time privy to Santa’s exact flight plans he will follow early Christmas morning. This year Santa will make his arrival in New England and follow a north and south flight plan gradually working his way west toward California.

Mission crews spent most of today preparing for this unique mission. Of primary concern was the tremendous performance of Santa's sleigh.

"We really don’t have the performance to keep up with Santa's sleigh but we do have the equipment on board to track a circumference around him," said Aircraft Commander Capt. Chris Egan. "We can't chase him around the sky, but we'll keep a good track on him."

The mission is expected to last just over six hours and will include an aerial refueling over the upper Midwest. Crewmembers are scheduled to be back home just in time to see what thoughtful gifts Santa left for them.

"It's quite an honor to be a part of this mission," said Airman First Class Michael Peterson, 964th AACS. "It's especially important since it's for someone as important as Santa."