WASHINGTON, D.C. – Federal safety officials have given Santa Claus (search) the go-ahead to fly his sleigh on Christmas Eve.
Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta (search) said Wednesday he knows how important the flight is to "good little girls and good little boys all around the world."
Mineta says the government asked for feedback from the public on Santa's flight application. He calls the response "overwhelming" -- millions of letters from children and even a few from what he calls "Santa scholars." One letter vouches for Santa as a "right jolly old elf."
Special red and green teams from the Federal Aviation Administration (search) have inspected Santa's reindeer-guided sleigh. It's been heavily modified to allow for round-the-world flights in a single night. That's what allows Santa to post fast delivery times year after year.
Santa promised his route won't interfere with air traffic.
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