NORAD seeks 'Santa's helpers'; volunteers needed to track holiday flight

Published Dec. 14, 2009
By 21st Space Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- For some, the holidays signify last-minute Christmas shopping, hosting friends and relatives, or catching up on the NFL playoffs, but for many Peterson volunteers, the looming Christmas holiday is an indication that it is once again time to help North American Aerospace Defense Command track Santa.

This year NORAD needs volunteers to answer phones Dec. 24 and 25 at Peterson's Leadership Development Center in Building 910. According to Joyce Frankovis, NORAD Public Affairs, volunteers will work two hour shifts and field international calls from children hoping to get a vector on Santa's position.

"Volunteers will receive 'round-the-clock calls from children around the world," Ms. Frankovis said. "As soon as they finish with one call, the phone will ring again."

Currently, the NORAD Tracks Santa Web site, www.noradsanta.org, features holiday games and activities. On Dec. 24, the Web site will begin streaming videos, captured by NORAD "Santa Cams," from numerous cities along Santa's journey, and will track his progress around the globe.

Beginning at midnight Dec. 23, Web site visitors can watch Santa's "flight-prep" and takeoff from the North Pole. Viewers can also track Saint Nick with up-to-the-minute updates on various satellite map Web sites.

The NORAD Tracks Santa program began Dec. 24, 1955, after a phone call was made to the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., by a local youngster who dialed a misprinted telephone number in a local newspaper advertisement. The commander at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colo., who answered the phone that night gave the youth the information requested - the whereabouts of Santa. Thus began the tradition of tracking Santa, a tradition that was carried on by NORAD when it was formed in 1958.

The NORAD Tracks Santa program has grown immensely since first presented on the Internet in 1998. The Web site receives millions of unique visitors from hundreds of countries and territories around the world.

Anyone wishing to volunteer may visit http://www.noradsantavolunteers.org and select a two hour slot. Volunteers must be at least 13 years old.

Children may call the NTS toll free number 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) or e-mail noradtrackssanta@gmail.com. Santa trackers will begin answering phones and replying to e-mail at 4 a.m. Dec. 24.