This year, Santa will fly from a cruising altitude of
50,000 feet down to rooftops using a satellite-based
procedure called an Optimized Profile Descent. In the
past, Santa had to rely on ground-based procedures to
descend slowly from one altitude to the next, much like
going down a staircase. The Optimized Profile Descent
allows Santa to slide gleefully through the air as if
riding down the banister, just as some children do on
Christmas morning, descending smoothly and gracefully
without having to throttle back on Rudolph and the other
reindeer.
The FAA’s Metroplex initiative will improve the flow of
air traffic into and out of large metropolitan areas
throughout the country. A metroplex is a region with
several airports serving major metropolitan areas where
heavy airport activity and environmental constraints
combine to hinder the efficient movement of air traffic.
Metroplex initiatives are underway or planned in
21 metropolitan areas, including Atlanta, Charlotte,
N.C., Central and South Florida, Dallas-Ft. Worth,
Houston, Northern California, Southern California and
Washington, D.C.
The NextGen program uses cutting-edge technology to
create a modern, satellite-based air traffic control
system, transforming the national airspace to make it
even safer and more efficient for the traveling public,
airports and operators, resulting in benefits to the
U.S. economy. NextGen initiatives underway in major
regions across the country are helping to deliver more
on-time flights, reduce fuel burn and ensure that the
U.S. has the safest aviation system in the world.
Children and families interested in learning more
about how NextGen is helping Santa deliver toys with
greater precision and reliability may visit the
Santa One Story at www.faa.gov/santa. The website
features fun and interactive information on the
different ways Santa is benefitting from NextGen,
educational puzzles, Santa’s approved flight plan
and a link to the North American Aerospace Defense
Command (NORAD) website, where NORAD tracks Santa’s
Christmas Eve voyage.
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