This year Airservices air traffic controllers will help guide Santa to his first stop in Hobart Tasmania, before he heads to the mainland and criss-crosses across the country making use of Australia’s five different time zones.

To help ensure Santa has as smooth a ride as possible, Airservices National Operations Centre in Canberra will be providing Santa with up-to-date weather information throughout the evening.

Airservices Manager Corporate Communication, Rob Walker said that Airservices works closely with the Bureau of Meteorology to track the weather for Santa’s visit.

“Santa has been in contact with our air traffic controllers ahead of the big night and has been provided with the forecasts to help him make any final adjustments to his flight path,” Mr Walker said.

“In such a large country as Australia, Santa is anticipating that he will experience different weather conditions during his flight and he has planned his trip accordingly.''

During his Australian visit, air traffic controllers will track his movements using satellite-based technology called Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast.

Santa’s sleigh (call signed Red Sled 1) has also been granted permission to use Smart Tracking to ensure he gets to all the places he needs to visit by the most direct and efficient route without tiring out the reindeer.

View Santa’s flight path at

www.airservicesaustralia.com/santa

You can also hear Santa talking with an Airservices representative about how much he was looking forward to visiting Australia again this year.