MEDIA RELEASE The Hon Warren Truss MP Minister for Transport and Regional Services 20 December 2005 076WT/2005

AUSTRALIA - NORTH POLE AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT Australia and the North Pole have reached an air services agreement that will allow Santa Claus to fly through Australian airspace on Christmas Eve. The Australian Government Minister for Transport and Regional Services, Warren Truss, said that the agreement was reached after rigorous safety checks of Santa's sleigh and reindeer. "The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has now issued Santa Claus with the necessary air safety approvals, as well as dispensation allowing the sleigh to fly lower than 1,000 feet over built-up areas. "The negotiations were complicated by the need to agree on the navigation lights carried by the sleigh. Civil Aviation Regulation 196 requires aircraft to carry the familiar red, green and white navigation lights at night. "However, Santa's elf negotiators argued that the lights would distract the reindeer. "Luckily, we were able to reach a compromise. One of the reindeer - Rudolph - has a very shiny nose. I am advised that you could even say it glows!" Mr Truss said CASA has therefore directed that Rudolph must lead the sleigh on Christmas Eve. "Santa's air operator's certificate is valid from bedtime on 24 December until early Christmas morning." Mr Truss said the Australian Government has fully briefed Santa on changes to Australia's low-level airspace since last Christmas. "Santa had an excellent aviation safety record. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) says that there has never been an accident in Australia involving flying reindeer," he said. Go to www.airservicesaustralia.com/santa05 to view unusual airborne activity occurring around the North Pole. Media Contacts Kylie Butler ( Mr Truss's office ) 02 6277 7680 / 0417 652 488   URL: http://www.ministers.dotars.gov.au/wtr/releases/2005/December/076WT_2005.htm