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.