Santa Got Permission to Fly!

US Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta gave Santa Claus the official US Government permission to fly over its skies and land on people’s houses legally.

An order granting a flight certificate and signed by U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta finds that Santa Claus is “exceptionally fit, joyfully willing and uniquely able to engage in the interstate air transportation for which he has requested a certificate.” The Secretary added that Santa has a 100 percent on-time arrival record, having never failed to deliver all of his toys by Christmas morning.

[Santa] also told the department that his sleigh will be powered by eight tiny reindeer, with the addition of a possible ninth reindeer equipped with a special air navigation warning light in its nose, in the event of fog or heavy snow.

Finally, the applicant, aware of the department’s heightened security concerns, said that although he does not have a federal air marshal on board he has asked his lead reindeer, Rudolph, to stay especially alert.

Santa’s sleigh also got a safety inspection from the FAA.

Link to DOT Press Release | Asian Fortune Article