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!

Hey gang – I just got a weird update from North Pole Flight Command. We have officially been put on alert. It says:

“Sector 5 will soon have slow moving, low flying sleighs in flight. This presents an excellent opportunity for tracker elves to view sleighs in flight. We do not presently have a precise timetable for this event. It will happen quickly. Advise all eyes on the Santa Tracking Map.”

That’s it, for now. When I know more you will know more.

We do have an open request for weather forecasts, specifically for August 23rd and August 24th. Maybe this is why they want the weather updates.

In any event, we should be seeing our first real opportunity of the season.

Keep an eye on North Pole Flight Command, too. They may be making an announcement soon.

(From the Office of Elf Roger Star – International Director of Santa Trackers) – As you are all well aware, yesterday a test flight of Santa’s sleigh crashed in the South Pacific. If you are following the news reports here and on other official websites of the North Pole, you are as informed as I am about the current status of the test flights.

There have been many from every sector who have questions about what happened and what this event means. The purpose of my statement here today is to clarify the situation as much as I can and to provide direction for tracker elves everywhere about what they can and should be doing right now.

North Pole Flight Command, hours ago, announced that all test flights have been suspended while they conduct an investigation into what happened and how another similar event can be prevented. How long test flights will be suspended is not known at this time.

Regardless, I have instructed elf supervisors of every sector to continue with their plans. That means you MAY receive direction and/or requests from your elf supervisor even if the test flights remain grounded. The operation of test flights never had anything to do with your responsibilities as a tracker. The test flights give us good training and are helpful in developing tracking skills such as spotting Santa’s sleigh in flight. But the test flights are not necessary for you to do your job.

We remind you, that this is a new year and that Santa has placed upon us new expectations in our tracking duties. We must move forward with those things.

Please remain engaged in checking in as frequently as you can for new direction from your elf supervisor.

If and when the test flights resume, you will hear how those flights might impact your sector and if there is an opportunity for you to participate in some way.

For now, assume that all operations are normal, and that you are “on-the-job” in your tracking duties. Your elf supervisor will provide an occasional update of your responsibilities.

Thank you.

The test flights of Santa’s Sleigh will engage with the North Pole Navy, per Elf Randi’s report from Sector 1 yesterday. But the bigger point is that we’re not entirely sure where the North Pole Navy is at this point.

We have been told we might see some of these test flights at least partially in Sector 5 over the coming days. So we need to alert everyone to a possible alert in the coming days.

Does that sound confusing?

I’m sorry if it does. I just haven’t been informed exactly what is going to happen.

I know this is unfair to you. And it certainly is not normal. But in the early going here of the test flights this is not all that unusual.

So just be ready to be ready. Or be ready to sit still.

I don’t know.