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enroute PA’s on Christmas Eve. The obvious addition to the PA during an evening flight will be information on the progress of our fellow aviator and his reindeer crew.When we receive word that his flight plan is on file, a ceremonious announcement will be made. More PA’s are made when his departure time arrives, then updates on his location are provided as he approaches the mainland U.S. (Santa never uses BARR to block his tail number). Traffic is usually light on Christmas Eve and direct routing is common....unless a vector around high priority, multi- mammal-powered traffic is required. I’ve heard Santa’s SAE (Sleigh Avionics ELT) is scheduled to install TCAS this year but he will still be negative RVSM.Everyone on the plane has a special connection as Christmas Eve slips away and Christmas Day arrives. The connection is even more special between crew members. We’re all away from our homes and families, so as a crew we become family even more so than normal. The view out the windows seems different on Christmas Eve too. When you look down at the normally busy roads at night you notice a peaceful stillness. And even though you can’t see snow on the ground, you feel that it’s there; like a Christmas card or painting of a wintery Christmas landscape. If the moon is bright enough, you may see the shiny glimmer of a snowy field or mountain every now and then. Sometimes you may get a view of the Northern Lights or glimpse a meteor. You also realize that hundreds of thousands of euphoric children nestled in their beds are struggling to sleep with that once- a-year, incredible anticipation of the upcoming day. The children on board are not nestled in their beds, there is no long winters nap and their euphoria is contagious. And I doubt it’s sugar-plums dancing in their heads; more likely someelectronics, games and toys.Once you arrive at your destination, the Merry Christmas goodbyes begin. After a Christmas Eve flight the goodbyes and thank- you’s are quite sincere and people really seem to care about each other. If you’re headed to yet another hotel like the crew, you’re reminded that a lot of other folks are working Christmas Eve and Day: clerks, maids, drivers, and restaurant workers—even a manager or two. It can feel pretty strange waking up in a hotel room on Christmas morning, so I try to bring a present for each of my crew when we meet for breakfast or crew pick up. It can be difficult to select a personal gift for them since I sometimes don’t know them, or I won’t get their names until the evening before the trip. It turns out that it truly is the thought that counts.Like flying at night on July 4th or at midnight on New Years Eve, there’s something very special about working and flying on Christmas Eve, a wonderful feeling. If you’re one of the thousands of Americans working on Christmas Eve and Day you are blessed with the task of helping others to enjoy “not working” on Christmas. I think the folks that are working sometimes seem gifted with more Christmas spirit than those with the day off. They’ve been given the opportunity to show that spirit to strangers and treat them as family. Do people that work Christmas Day get to experience the often elusive, “True Meaning of Christmas”?It’s better to giveAssisting at a food bank or something as simple as taking a gift or meal to the employees of a local business are examples of special things you might try on Christmas Day in pursuit of that “True Meaning.” How about the folks at your local FBO? The maintenance shop is probably closed but the flight line and admin people will be there. How easy it would be to deliver afew pizzas with a ribbon and bow on each box! Bring along a gallon of eggnog or apple cider and some plastic champagne glasses too. If you have never tried these types of things you may be amazed by the gratification you experience. You’ve always heard its better to give than receive, right?Well, you’ve made it through another of my contraction-filled articles. If you travel commercially on Christmas Eve or Day, listen for my name over the plane’s intercom. I’m sure I’ll be working. Stop by the cockpit and say hello – I’ll be the guy with four stripes (green and red today), a bald head and a red Christmas tie; no little round belly shaking like jelly, though. And I do hope you noticed one contraction I didn’t use in this story: the one where you substitute an “X” in Christmas, taking out Christ. Not me, not gonna happen. And it’s not Happy Holidays, it’s Merry Christmas. If you’re flying your sleigh Christmas Eve, like Santa and me, be careful out there and Happy Christmas to all and to all a good-night! T&T•Kevin Dingman has been flying for 39 years. He’s an ATP typed in the B737 and DC9 with 18,000 hours. A retired Air Force Major; he flew the F-16 then performed as a USAF Civil Air Patrol Liai- son Officer. He flies volunteer missions for the Christian or- ganization Wings Of Mercy, is employed by a major airline, and owns and operates a Beech- craft Duke. Contact Kevin at Dinger10d@gmail.com.DECEMBER 2011 TWIN & TURBINE • 43