December 17, 2020 – Winnipeg – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
The countdown to December 24th has begun! With the clock ticking as the big night approaches, we at the Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Region are today naming our CF-18 Hornet pilots, maintainers and trackers who will be charged with the mission of monitoring and escorting Santa as he completes his magical journey through Canadian airspace.
This Christmas will mark the 65th consecutive year of NORAD tracking Santa's yuletide journey around the world. The defence of Canada and the United States is NORAD's top priority. NORAD is a bi-national U.S. and Canadian command charged with aerospace and maritime warning and aerospace control of North America, as well as monitoring aerospace activity globally. However, every year during the holidays, NORAD assumes the supplementary mission of tracking Santa as he travels around the world.
CF-18 escort pilots and maintainers are chosen from both 3 Wing Bagotville, Que. and 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alta., while the trackers are chosen from the Canadian Air Defence Sector at 22 Wing North Bay, Ont.
“Thanks to the dedicated men and women who keep a watchful eye over North American airspace 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. NORAD tracks everything that flies in and around North America. On December 24, we also have the special mission of tracking and escorting Santa,” said Major-General (Maj.-Gen.) Eric Kenny, Commander of the…
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