For the next two weeks Sector 5 will be home to the test flights of Santa’s sleigh. The time frame begins as the test flight pilots and reindeer shift to Mexico later this week to accept delivery of Version 4 of this year’s design.

From Mexico the flights will travel north to the United States and Canada, where days of testing are planned during fall weather in North America.

I am told these flights will be in our sector until at least October 1st.

I am also told the possibility of sleigh sightings is very high during the next few weeks.

Santa’s sleigh has not had an easy test flight experience this year. In fact, it is expected that Version 5 of the sleigh will be released likely next week, based on results from this week’s flights.

What is the problem?

Flight analysts and engineers are refusing to discuss it at this time. With about 100 days to go until Santa’s launch there appears to be plenty of time to get the issues resolved.

For our tracker elves in Sector 5 I would remind you that this test flight period is an opportunity for us to test some reporting functions. We already have a couple of report requests out, which are the real deal. You should be ready over the next two weeks to respond to some new requests.

Also, October marks the beginning of the fourth quarter of the year – the most important time of the year. The reports you send in and how you respond to requests – whether you are a freelance elf or a North Pole Elf – are vital to your annual review as an elf. You would be wise to remain on your toes.

That is all for today, elves.

Thank you for all your great work!

Sector 2 trackers can have their first real chance at seeing sleighs in the skies over the coming few days. I’ve been told by Flight Command that some test flights will be over parts of our sector soon.

This is not expected to be a comprehensive time for us, unlike in recent days in Sector 3. I’m told it will only be three or four days. I have also been told that the flight path will be over “northern areas”, whatever that means.

The weather is supposed to be pretty good for these flights, day and night. The chances for seeing sleighs I’m told are pretty good given that the anticipated altitude will be fairly low.

Please report any sleigh sightings immediately.

Yes, it might seem a little early. But that is part of the point this year in our new reporting standards.

I am asking all elves in Sector 2 to begin chimney inspections now. Please visit this link to file your report.

Why now?

Well, first of all, most chimneys are not going to change much between now and when Santa gets there on Christmas Eve. Plus, the weather is good in most areas right now and doing an inspection should be easier. Without snow or other obstructions you should be able to easily see everything you need to see.

DO NOT get on the roof or on a ladder to do a chimney inspection. Doing so may void your contract as an elf. Santa forbids it.

You must do your inspection from the ground. If you have concerns please take pictures and send in a photo report.

Another good thing about doing chimney inspections now is that it give us time. If a close-up picture or inspection of a chimney is needed then we have time to send an elf team down from the North Pole for a closer look.

We need all elves in Sector 2 to inspect as many chimneys in their neighborhoods as they can BEFORE October 15th.

We realize that not every home has a chimney, especially in southern areas of our sector. That doesn’t matter. Don’t report on a home without a chimney. Just look for all the chimneys close to you that you can find and report on them.

Questions? Feel free to ask them in the comment area below.

Trackers of Sector 4: North Pole Flight Command has just informed the Regional Tracking Center here in Milagro, Ecuador to expect sleighs over our skies very soon.

This is a legitimate alert.

I am awaiting some kind of official announcement from North Pole Flight Command that test flights are resuming. But I have not seen it yet.

Earlier this week we were advised that Flight Command would not keep the test flights grounded long. I was expecting maybe things would pick up again on Monday or Tuesday. Now I think that has all been pushed up.

Since the sleighs are fairly close to us in the South Pacific, I want us to be ready TODAY for anything to happen.

And please keep on eye on North Pole Flight Command for an announcement. It has to be coming soon.

Elves – I have news from Flight Command: Sector 3 is now on high alert.

North Pole Flight Command just messaged me that the first sleigh flights over our sector will be happening very soon. How soon? They aren’t specific. And they haven’t officially announced the resumption of test flights. But this alert is the real deal – it came through official channels and was coded perfectly. This is happening, whatever THIS is.

Sector 3 has not had any kind of reporting opportunity yet this season. I think this alert changes things.

As such, I’m asking all active elves to please file a weather report as soon as you can.

Also, be prepared to submit a sleigh sighting report if you see a sleigh.

Due to the serious tone of this alert I’ve gone to 24-hour monitoring here at the Regional Tracking Center here in Bethlehem, South Africa. All elves here will be working double shifts until we know the activity in our sector has ceased.

I will keep you posted.