The team of pilots and technicians had another merry memorable mission on Christmas eve as the crew at 22 Wing Canadian Forces Base North Bay helped track and then coordinate CF18s to escort Santa Claus through Canadian airspace.
It has been a NORAD tradition for decades.
Captain Darren Ashton, Senior Director 21 Aerospace Control and Warning Squadron, managed his crew inside the NORAD facility on Christmas Eve.
"The mission last night was a huge success," said Capt. Darren Ashton.
"Our aircraft in both Bagotville and Cold Lake met up and exchanged Santa over the mid-portion of Canada and he was able to get right through our airspace delivering all the presents to the wonderful boys and girls."
Capt. Ashton notes that Santa's annual journey is also very unique in the fact that Santa and his reindeer do not file a flight plan. So NORAD must use technology to track him but must also rely on a visual identification from the CF-18s who meet up and escort Santa on his annual Christmas mission once he enters Canadian airspace off the coast of Newfoundland/Labrador.
"One of the things we noticed again last night was Rudolph's nose was helping us again to pick them up on radar," added Capt. Ashton.
"It shows up really brightly, that big red nose shows up really bright on our radar and once we get the aircraft out to him it serves as a great beacon for pilots to home in on Santa and by its light it actually gives us a good way to communicate visually with Santa throughout the mission.
It was a special night for the NORAD crew and a tradition another crew will look forward to taking on on December 24, 2022.
