SANTA FLIES IN BY HELICOPTER AT LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

(Palmdale, CA) - The 800-plus youngsters at Palmdale’s Manzanita Elementary School are in for a special holiday treat when Santa lands by helicopter at their playground on Thursday, December 7, at 9:30 a.m. The event is sponsored by Palmdale Airport, which has adopted the school and supports educational activities throughout the year.

Airport Manager Selena Birk is very excited about the event. "This is the second Santa Fly-In we’ve hosted in Palmdale, and we’re very pleased to make such a meaningful contribution to the community," she said. "It’s a great way to expose kids to aviation and spread the holiday spirit."

Lasting approximately 90 minutes, the festivities will include a musical salute from the Highland High School marching band and the Manzanita choir, as well as guest appearances by local character mascots, business and community leaders, city and county officials and the Antelope Valley College cheerleaders and mascot. Santa, the guest of honor, will fly in on a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s helicopter with Christmas gift bags for each student. More than 50 local businesses and individuals have supported the event by donating services and supplies.

Palmdale Regional Airport is one of four airports owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a department of the City of Los Angeles. Other airports included in the system are Los Angeles International Airport, Ontario International Airport and Van Nuys Airport.