Critical Update from Flight Command

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My Fellow Trackers,

I am humbled to take on my new duties with you as Associate Director of Santa Trackers and I address you now as a first step in my new role. Elf Crash Murphy, my boss and your boss, has asked me to step up in communicating to you just what is happening both in our world of tracking Santa for Santa and with information available to me at North Pole Flight Command.

Please be advised that my function is not news, it is direction. Elf Meg Nogg, Elf Harold Star, Elf Ed Zachary, Elf Ernest, Elf Frank Myrrh, and Elf Trixie will continue in their duties publishing official news from North Pole Flight Command, Santa Update and here at Santa Trackers.

Elf Crash asked me to convey to you that his time will be limited over the next few days as we get closer to Santa’s launch. Since I am nearly always near a computer, I will convey information and direction to you when Elf Crash can not.

Therefore, here is a critical update from North Pole Flight Command that is as current as I can make it.

We have lost over 40% of our staff at Flight Command to Santa’s Workshop. The crisis in Santa’s workshop has to take priority over all other efforts at this time. That makes our staffing at Flight Command extremely challenged at THE most important moments of Operation Merry Christmas. Elf Roger Star, director of North Pole Flight Command, is keeping things in motion with help from several command vessels of the North Pole Navy, and our good Elf Supervisors in the Regional Tracking Centers.

Elf Crash asked you all to step up the other day to help. Many of you have checked in early. Most are sending in updated weather reports. So far, things are going fine under the modified plans in place.

Here are some new things for you to know:

  1. Elf Moe is working to keep the Elf Community here at SantaTrackers.net and at SantaUpdate.com safe from bad elements. You have likely seen them here and there pop up on the Elf Wall. I’ve asked him to tightened things up a bit. We had some silly incursions last night and we just don’t need that now. You know who all the important elves are. Someone new who shows up claiming to an elf teacher or having elf powers or magic or other strange abilities are people you should report immediately. Elf Moe is working to get ahead of them but occasionally one will slip through the cracks. Feel free to use that report feature and that will remove them until Elf Moe and his team can get to it. Please be aware that Elf Moe has NO intention of taking punitive steps against any known elf already in the Elf Community. You are safe.
  2. Sector 1 – Elf Randi reports that our numbers in Sector 1 are growing and that no new reports are needed at this time. She does say that flight corridors for sleighs of Operation Airlift will include the skies over Japan, the Philippines and coastal areas of China over the next two days. They could be tapering off on December 24th at the Operation Air Lift effort has been very effective for the sector.
  3. Sector 2 – Elf Clif in Asia and the Middle East says Operation Airlift flights into the sector are focusing on India, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Jordan. Flights are coming both from the North Pole and from North Pole Navy carriers in the Indian Ocean.
  4. Sector 3 – Elf Rolf says the sleigh activity for Operation Airlift has been insane, especially in the skies of Eastern Europe and the south of Africa. That activity, according to Elf Buck Sanchez at the North Pole Sleigh Port, is expected to actually increase. Keep eyes on the skies in London, Paris, Tripoli, Athens, and Berlin. Poland could see a lot of activity on Tuesday in particular. Rolf says he’d feel better if there were more weather reports from the UK, Sweden and Iceland.
  5. Sector 4 – Elf Tubby reports that sleigh activity is strong, especially in the skies of Brazil, Ecuador, and all islands of the Caribbean. There are a lot of military avionics in Venezuela at this time and none of it has to do with the North Pole. We’ve got some trackers there and we’re concerned for them. But we cannot impose any requests on them at this time. Santa’s own activity in Venezuela is in question at this time.
  6. Sector 5 – this remains easily the most active area with sleigh flights. The east coast of Canada, the west coast of Mexico, and the Rocky Mountain region of the USA are your major air corridors for Operation Airlift at this time. Flights are expected to double EACH DAY until Wednesday, when it may explode even more. Weather reports, constantly sent, is the word here. Especially on the California and Oregon Coast over the next 48 hours and into the end of next week.

Big debates are happening in Flight Command right now about Santa’s flight plan. Many want to deliver because of issues in Santa’s workshop and weather concerns in various places.

Santa has already vehemently insisted there will be NO launch delays this year and he is vowing to deliver on-time in every sector. Whether or not Santa will change his mind isn’t something I can speak to, but I know several key elves are presenting many alternatives to Santa at this time.

Please feel free to ask any questions you have below or on the Elf Wall. Thanks!

Elf Z Promoted to Associate Director

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We are pleased to announce the promotion of Elf Z of North Pole Flight Command as Associate Director of Santa Trackers. He will report to Elf Crash Murphy and will assist him in all duties.

Elf Z has been working special projects at North Pole Flight Command, with a special emphasis on AI. His most ambitious project has been the development of the very popular feature at SantaUpdate.com known as ElfBot.

Elf Z has also been somewhat notorious in the Elf Community at SantaTrackers.net for feeding inside information from Flight Command at times to the Elf Wall. Now we can say that calling is quite official.

While he will continue to be stationed at North Pole Flight Command he takes up his duty as Associate Director immediately. With Elf Crash Murphy being engaged with his North Pole Radio News duties, especially in the lead up to Santa’s launch, tracker elves at SantaTrackers.net may expect Elf Z to provide official news and direction.

Elf Z’s work has been greatly appreciated.

Tracker Elves Can Check-In

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After discussion with the Elf Supervisors this evening we have determined to open check-in for tracker elves through Christmas Eve.

Tracker Elf Check-in

This process is an important part of tracking Santa for Santa. Your Elf Supervisors need to know who is working and who is not. I know I asked you to send in an Elf Status Report and I thank those of you who did it.

But due to the way the system works, if you know right now what your schedule will be up to when Santa is in flight, please check-in via this link.

If your schedule changes you can re-check-in with revisions at any time.

Please be aware that while I’m engaging this process now and I am going to change the schedule we’ve given to North Pole Flight Command and the News Department. They will still announce check-ins via the websites and the radio news because we know not everyone will see this notice here. You need only to check-in once, unless your schedule changes as previously noted.

If you are confused or have questions, please post them up to the Elf Wall or in the comments below.

Thank you!

Flight Command Needs Help

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As you may have read at SantaUpdate.com today things are getting even crazier in Santa’s Workshop. The workshop is 13 days behind with just five days to go until Santa’s launch.

This is an “all hands on deck” situation. Santa’s workshop needs more help – a lot more help. Every department at the North Pole is sending help. That includes North Pole Flight Command.

Honestly, Flight Command does not have the elves to spare. But we have to do something.

Right now, even as I post this, the Elf Supervisors are on a call. They are trying to see what responsibilities can be shifted to the Regional Tracking Centers and to other qualified personnel working ships of the North Pole Navy.

I do not yet know all the specifics but I think they may try to run sleigh traffic control from the SS Jingle Bell, the flagship of the North Pole Navy.

That’s going to be an interesting move for a couple of reasons. Obviously, the Jingle Bell is not at the North Pole and doesn’t have visuals. However, these are all out-bound sleighs and there is minimal in-bound traffic at this time.

Seeing that they have activated another 10,000 reindeer and 1000 sleighs, that traffic outbound is only increasing. They need to keep that going.

We have been asked to help. I’m trying right now to determine HOW we can help, living and working as we are as remote elves.

I am asking you all to be on alert at this time. Elf Supervisors may be reaching out to you. We have a very busy weekend coming up for everyone so please do this for now as quickly as you can:

  1. File an Elf Status report to let your Elf Supervisor know your availability now and for the next five days. If you cannot work, that’s fine, just let your supervisor know.
  2. Do an air traffic report for your area. With all these added reindeer and sleighs, the skies are going to be crowded. We need to know how crowded they are.
  3. Keep the weather reports coming. Your Elf Supervisor may be requesting additional weather reports for certain areas.

In addition, to free up time and resources DO NOT send in any more roof reports, chimney inspections or landing zone reports. Stay away from ALL emergency reports, unless requested by your Elf Supervisor.

Please await further instructions. Check in OFTEN.

Thanks for your attention at this time.

What Trackers Should Be Doing Right Now

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Someone on the Elf Wall got a little wiggy the other day because Elf Pinky had not posted something new for a day or two.

Relax, elves. There’s a reason why you’re not hearing a ton from your Elf Supervisors: I’ve asked them not to post anything unless it is absolutely necessary.

With 5 sectors, a bunch of punchy elves in Flight Command, and millions of new trackers out there this website and our direction as a team in tracking Santa for Santa can become a big mess in a hurry if the Supes are posting a ton of stuff every day.

So how do you know what to do?

Well, for new trackers, it’s simple: first, go to Elf University and learn your job. Then, go to your sector news page and see everything your Elf Supervisor has posted for your Sector. Once you are caught up with all that you should know what to do.

Now, for ALL trackers right now, this is what we should be doing.

  1. Weather reports, at least once weekly. This is becoming more and more important as Flight Command keeps sending out more sleighs. We need reports from everywhere.
  2. Sleigh sighting reports. If you see one, report it. We are getting a LOT more reports of sleighs in the skies. Get pictures if you can.
  3. Set up your home tracking center. Talk to other elves on the Elf Wall for ideas.
  4. Listen to North Pole Radio News. I’m on there and I have a lovely voice.
  5. Watch the North Pole Flight Command website. It has the most current news for trackers.
  6. Recruit some new trackers. We just don’t have enough of them.

And that’s about it right now. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If there is some big urgent important need in your sector your Elf Supervisor will post it. If they post something, do it. Right away. Check in daily. But for the most part, I’ve asked them to keep things to a minimum to keep down the distractions and the confusion.

Oh, remember: next Sunday, the 21st of December, I will be hosting the last North Pole Chat of the season at SantaUpdate.com. Guess what we’ll be talking about. That’s where final tracking direction will come. Be there if you can.

Thank you for your efforts.

Tracker Numbers Around the World

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Greetings Trackers from Flight Command, this is Elf Flip with your numbers report.

As of this morning, there are 27 million trackers officially checked in for duty at this time. We expect that number to more than double before Santa launches. Trackers are active from 148 countries around the world.

Sector 5 in Central and North America currently lead in overall tracker elf head count, with more than 14 million trackers. In end place is Sector 3 with about 8 million and the rest are spread out among Sectors 1, 2 and 4.

The only sector down in trackers so far this year is Sector 1, though that is expected to change.

Will Santa have enough tracker elves this Christmas?

Elf Crash Murphy, International Director of Santa Trackers, says he is unconcerned with the number of trackers. Earlier this week Santa called for more tracker elves worldwide due to concerns about the effort this year. But Elf Crash Murphy says by the time Santa launches he knows there will be enough tracker elves.

Elf Status Report Requested

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Elves,

I just need to see who is working and who isn’t working at this time. Please send in an Elf Status Report when you can.

Thanks!

Local Christmas Report Needed

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Flight Command just issued an update for us and they would like a fresh Local Christmas Report from all areas of Sector 2.

The report can be found at this link.

We have had good steady reports the last couple of days. Please keep up the good work!

Get Tracking Questions in to Santa

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Several weeks ago we were alerted to the fact that Santa will be addressing the tracker elf community about Tracking Santa this year and that he wanted your questions. This is a reminder that there is still time to send in those questions.

Elf Crash will be in North Pole Chat before Christmas too and he wants to address some of those questions, especially if Santa doesn’t have time to address them all.

You can submit your questions at this link.

Thanks!

Landing Zone Update

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Flight Command does not feel like they have a good handle on landing zones set up for Santa in our sector.

My feedback to them is that I’m not sure how many of our trackers have a landing zone set up. It’s not a requirement.

But, if you DO have a landing zone you want Santa to use at your house or in your neighborhood, please send in a landing zone report as soon as you can with information that will be useful for Santa.

Flight Command did remind me that it is OKAY for trackers to use video or cameras in their landing zones for when Santa arrives. They ask if you do capture Santa landing or taking off that you share those images or videos with Flight Command for their records.

Thanks, elves!

Sleigh Sightings Possible

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North Pole Flight Command has informed me that sleigh sightings are possible in Sector 1 in the following areas over the next few days:

Tokyo
Wellington
Suva
Guam
Bering Straight
South China Sea

These are common air traffic corridors where staging locations are set for support of Santa’s flight. Some of these areas are waterways where ships of the North Pole Navy are anchored. Sleigh in the skies are possible 24 hours per day, according to flight schedules we have received from Flight Command.

If you happen to see a sleigh in flight please try to capture video or pictures and submit a Sleigh Sighting report.

Thanks.

Elf Status Update

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Trackers of Sector 1 – things are definitely picking up. I need to know who’s working and who is not right now. Please update your Elf Status as soon as you can.

I strong urge you as well to become familiar with all our tracker reports. I think we’re going to be sending in a few public observance reports, air traffic reports, and local Christmas reports in the next few weeks.

Don’t forget the weekly weather report.