Test Flights Fail in Hurricane

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North Pole Flight Command just posted a stunning update: the test flights of Santa’s sleigh have failed during purposeful test flights into Hurricane Ian. Evidently Flight Command saw the catastrophic storm as an unusual opportunity and sent the test flights right into the path of the hurricane.

It didn’t go well.

Another version of the sleigh – Version 5 now, I think it is – had already been ordered and will be sent to somewhere in the southeast of the United States tomorrow. I’m told that this new version will test further over the next couple of days to “take advantage of the unsettled weather” before it will transition to Sector 2, where it will basically begin the flight testing routine over.

I have been reminded that this kind of thing is normal and nothing to worry about with more than 85 days remaining until Santa’s launch.

How have the reports been flowing from Sector 5 during this test run of the sleigh? Elf Pinky says the reports have been VERY strong and they have some real possibilities of actual photos of the sleigh in flight. She needs to confirm them before sharing but I’m convinced that one of our tracker elves actually did capture it. (Although Pinky did get LOTS and LOTS of photos of Jupiter this week, which was prominent in the night skies, that some thought was a sleigh).

What can trackers in Sector 2 anticipate as the test flights shift to their area?

I’m told night flights are the first order of business. That means sleigh visibility will be better.

Will the flights shift to further big weather events like new hurricanes? North Pole Flight Command says to bet on it. This is one of the more serious efforts in testing the sleigh and there could be a lot of storm chasing over the next two months. That is part of the reason why your weather reports are so important.

Some are writing in expressing great concern about Santa’s sleigh.

Many are concerned at the North Pole, too.

But I would just emphasize, once again, that Santa and the lead elves who head up the test flight project are not worried about Santa’s sleigh. There is plenty of time to work out the issues and some of what you’re reading here in the news is “normal” – it just doesn’t get shared much on a site like SantaUpdate.com. As elves, you should be able to handle tough news. So we share it here and hope that you will keep it “between us”, as other elves, rather than taking your concerns to the world on social media.

Elves don’t panic, okay?

Outage Affects News Operations

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All of the North Pole has struggled to maintain contact with the outside world since late last Wednesday night. A fierce and prolonged winter blizzard laid waste to new fiber optic cables being installed to upgrade North Pole infrastructure. The surprise storm also disrupted all outdoor activities and ground traffic as well as delayed flight operations at the sleigh port. Any Internet-connect device or system suffered significant downtime, a first for the North Pole.

As explained earlier today via North Pole Flight Command the storm hit while critical upgrades were being made. Normally, such intense weather is not seen during this time of the year at the North Pole. Elves in the Weather Tracking Department are examining what went wrong with their forecasts and why crews working the upgrades were not given more notice in advance of the storm.

“For all of our modern technology we still are not 100 percent accurate in predicting North Pole weather,” said Elf Seymour Snow, head meteorologist for the North Pole Weather Tracking Department. “This storm was aided by a cold front usually seen during the months of January and February – very cold, very swift and super fierce. It was the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane. That’s not unusual for the North Pole but it is unusual for this time of the year. We can handle it usually. But I think with the upgrades they were working on it made us a little vulnerable and the weather took complete advantage.”

Santa has had plenty to say to several departments about this storm. The Weather Tracking and Utilities Departments were not the only ones affected. Almost all departments were affected.

Elf Ernest tells me that he has checked in with all department heads and that the overall state of readiness for Operation Merry Christmas remains on track, although most departments fell “a little short” of their production goals for last week.

Elf Ernest also says some events were cancelled, shipments were missed and that the check-in of arriving reindeer was suspended during the course of the storm.

As of today it appears all operations at the North Pole are returning to normal since Internet connection has been restored.

North America Elves Go on Alert

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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!

Freelance Elves Falling Behind

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A few months ago I made a recommendation that all freelance elves be given a 90-day probationary period before being allowed to join the Elf Community. Since that time we have halted all registrations so that Elf Supervisors can evaluate the effectiveness of freelance elves.

So far this initiative is failing.

After conferring with all Elf Supervisors from every sector it appears, since about 90 days have passed since we started this, that ZERO freelance elves are eligible at the time to become permanent North Pole Elves.

I would also note that we are quickly approaching the deadline for any new freelancers to qualify before Santa takes flight this year.

I’m not sure how Santa feels about this.

Elf Supervisors say that we are getting MORE reports from Freelance Elves than we are from North Pole Elves. However, those reports are lacking in detail and substance.

We believe it will get better. There is a large pool of freelance elves who have worked as freelancers for years. They want to keep it that way. I do not believe this pool of elves has actually shown up yet. I believe we will endure a long period of wanna-be elves who are entirely new to tracking Santa for Santa before we see those experienced freelancers show up.

I would remind you that our goal this year is not a number of elves. It is reports. Good reports. Useful reports. Timely reports.

You – our North Pole Elves of the SantaTrackers.net elf community – are doing an EXCEPTIONAL job. The Elf Supervisors are over the top about the good quality, frequency and substance of your report. In fact, I am hearing that some elf supervisors are not only planning on good reviews for most of you, but also plenty of promotions.

Keep up that good work. It’s getting noticed.

For our freelance elf friends – thank you for your efforts. Please go to Elf University. Learn. Reach out to your elf supervisor. They are there to help. If you really want to be a North Pole Elf and join the great elf community here then do your homework. It’s not hard work. But it is direct, and it is serious, and it is important.

Santa chooses his elves carefully.

I know he would love to see some freelance elves this year rise to the level needed of a real elf.

New Podcast Discusses the Great Sleigh Debate

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Santa Trackers Podcast
Santa Tracker Podcast
New Podcast Discusses the Great Sleigh Debate
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Elf Trixie told us about it a week ago: all kinds of debate is raging about Santa’s Sleigh.

In an all new podcast episode Elves Frank Myrrh and Crash Murphy discusses the great sleigh debate and why it is not really that big of a deal. In fact, Elf Crash says it is hardly news.

This episode comes on the heels of another announcement just made about a change in the sleigh’s design. The next version of the sleigh will begin test flights this next week in Sector 1.

Where is this whole thing going? What does it mean for Santa and Christmas?

And, more importantly, what does it mean for tracker elves?

Give a listen to Frank and Crash to find out.

New Sleigh to Test Over Sector 1

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Santa’s sleigh has been working over the skies of Sector 3, and in recent days, over Sector 2. The test flights in these areas have been productive.

As a result of those flights we can now inform you that yet another new prototype sleigh has been produced and we will transition the sleigh yet again over the next several days.

Version 3, which is what we call the new sleigh prototype, features design tweaks meant to stabilize the sleigh at high speeds. Previous designs revealed stability issues under heavy cargo conditions, a frequent reality in Claus flight on Christmas Eve. We will dispatch test pilots and reindeer to Sector 1 for testing of this new version later this next week.

In addition, under the direction of the North Pole Navy and North Pole Flight Command, the SS Frosty will temporarily reposition to the Tasman Sea to support flight operations while in Sector 1.

We can also report that the operational condition of both the test pilot teams and the reindeer teams is exceptional.

We continue to enjoy the support of tracker elves around the world while the test flight program continues. The coming weeks will see each sector perform reporting in advance of Santa’s flight that are necessary for the success of the mission. We hope all tracker elves worldwide are engaged at this critical time.

Sector 2 Expecting Sleighs in the Skies

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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.

Sector 5 Local Christmas Report

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Howdy, Elves!

I have to tell you, I was really disappointed by the two days of sleigh flybys we had. They just ran right through us.

I got a lot of reports of possible sleigh sightings but I got more questions than anything. The test flights have yet to come to our area and stay here for a little while.

I complained about that a little bit to Flight Command. After all, how are you guys supposed to get trained if we don’t get sleighs in the skies here?

Well, I guess they heard me. I got a call from Santa himself.

He said, “Pinky, send your elves out as soon as they can get out to do a Local Christmas Report.”

I love that report. Here’s what you need to know that Santa needs to know:

This is a report about the Christmas Spirit in your area. There are lots of signs that show up before Christmas that the Christmas Spirit is building. You can see it by noticing:

  • Christmas products in advertisements and on store shelves
  • Christmas trees being decorated or even cut down in some places
  • Christmas music on the radio
  • Christmas movies on TV
  • People talking about Christmas
  • Groups rehearsing Christmas plays or concerts

You know all the signs. Is it happening where you live? Maybe or maybe not. After all, we’re four months away still.

Either way, Santa wants to know what you see and what your think.

Let’s give him a good report before September 15th. He’ll probably want this report a time or two more before Christmas.

 

Chimney Inspections Needed

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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.

Sector 3 Gets First Visits of Santa’s Sleigh

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The test flights of the newest version of Santa’s sleigh have arrived in Sector 3. I have just been notified by North Pole Flight Command that these flights will be in our sector for “the next several days”.

This is the first flight action in Sector 3 this year. I hope it is an opportunity for us.

Therefore, as a first request, I am asking all trackers in Sector 3 to send in a weather report as soon as possible.

Some elves have contacted me about sleigh sightings report. And the answer is yes, if you spot a sleigh please report it at once. If you can get a picture, please do so.

While we have some reports we will want in time, I’m awaiting direction for Flight Command before asking you for them.

Once I know more, I will let you know.

Please enjoy “the next several days” and stand ready for any new requests that they might give us.

Murmurs about Santa’s Sleigh

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It has been an interesting week since the sleigh crash in the South Pacific. Murmurs about Santa’s sleigh have been everywhere since.

I suppose it is human nature to cast blame. At first, everyone was in shock – and worried about the well being of the pilot and the reindeer. But once it was found they were okay then the blame game started.

From what I can tell, it started in the Department of Redundancy Department. They’ve been worried about Santa’s sleigh all year and without their warning last spring we would not even be doing the test flights of Santa’s sleigh right now.

But those are not happy elves over at the DRD.

I won’t mention any names. I won’t tell you who the test pilot was and I won’t tell you the names of the elves I spoke to at DRD and NPFC. The reason I won’t is very simple. I don’t want anyone to get in trouble.

This post is nothing but trouble.

You see, my contact in the DRD says the whole design idea for this year’s sleigh is a bad idea and that it needs to be scrapped. Right now.

Well, that’s impossible. It is late August. It is just too late in the year to start all over on a new design plan. Santa signed off on this plan.

That is a process that usually wraps up in February. Construction on new designs usually starts around April and test flights begin in May. They continue all summer and new design tweaks come out usually every two to four weeks during the test flight phase.

Each year there are usually up to 15 generations or versions of a sleigh’s design before the bells are put on and Santa takes off in it.

We blew that scheduled timeline way back when it was decided that last year’s design was good enough and we didn’t need to do as much to test it.

That is exactly what one of my friends in Flight Command says. “This sleigh was nearly perfect last year,” he said, “And the Department of Redundancy Department even admits that. It’s a good plan. It’s a good sleigh.”

But it’s not.

The test pilot who crashed last week said there’s something really wrong with this year’s sleigh. He said he’s not a sleigh designer. But as a pilot he says he can feel there is something “off” when he flies the sleigh.

As a test pilot, he runs all kinds of numbers on his flights – even numbers they don’t track in Flight Command.

“I have a theory,” the test pilot told me. “I think the drag coefficient is completely off. I flew the test flights last year and I kept those logs. I know what the numbers should be and they are not the same this year. I’m sure if they took a look at that coefficient for the 11 other sleighs they would find that what I am saying is true.”

How true?

Today – the 22nd of August – the remaining sleighs are in transit from the Indian Ocean to somewhere over Sector 5. Our test pilot said that if he did his math right the sleighs would arrive in San Diego at one specific time.

I checked. He was dead on right. The sleighs got there within a minute of when he said they would.

But here’s the kicker: he said that if things were right with those sleighs, given the speed at which they move on a high-profile transition journey like this, especially in tandem style like they are, then they should have arrived in San Diego 47 minutes earlier.

That math is too beyond me, kids.

But I checked out his numbers with Elf Buck, Elf Roger and even Elf Flip – all numbers guys and all expert pilots (except for Flip).

Guess what? The numbers check out.

But it’s not just the guy who survived the crash who is looking at things sideways now when it comes to Santa’s sleigh this year.

There is a growing division of sleigh naysayers in North Pole Flight Command. In fact, I hear the discussions there are getting quite heated.

But at the end of the day, even if minds came together between Flight Command, the test pilots, the DRD, and the Research and Development Department who designed this sleigh in the first place, it doesn’t matter.

Either they get this sleigh figured out in the next 100 days or so – or Santa is going to have to fly something else.

Right now the tide is rising against this year’s sleigh.

The current test flights are going to end at the North Pole in a day or two. These 11 sleighs will be retired and 12 shiny new sleigh prototypes are going to take to the skies somewhere. And it seems everyone will be holding their breath.

Because a lot of elves right now have no faith in the design, even if it is corrected. The murmurs are only going to grow louder.

I’ll keep you posted.

Elf Trixie

Sector 4 Alerted AGAIN!

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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.