ANN Daily Touch-And-Go: 12.22.05 (ANN's Short-Form Daily News Program)

ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 12.22.05 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program)

ANN Special Feature -- Phil Boyer Looks Back at 2005 and Forward to 2006 (Part 1 of 3): 12.22.05 (ANN's Feature News Program, with the AOPA's Phil Boyer, Part One Of Three)

Also: NASA Makes List, Checks Twice, Clears Santa Claus For KSC Landing

Aero-News has learned that after several months of negotiations -- with plenty of paperwork flying back and forth between Washington and the North Pole, along with a few "naughty" accusations against unnamed FAA personnel -- Santa Claus has been given unrestricted access to the nation's airspace.

"Santa can now focus on making his list and checking it twice, without the hassle of government paperwork. Thanks to this agreement, the only time he needs to worry about Red Tape is if he wants to use it to wrap presents." Source: US Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, on the "official" decision to open up national airspace for a certain jolly visitor on December 25. The move signifies new hope for pilots struggling to gain improved access in the face of ever-tightening security restrictions -- because let's face it, if some clown in a red suit pulled along by flying reindeer can fly through the Washington DC ADIZ, anything's possible. (If you believe we're serious... get help, now.)