Santa Claus’ Flyover to Start at 6 p.m.

Santa and his reindeer are scheduled to make their yearly visit to western Ventura County tonight.

Continuing a 15-year tradition, Santa’s luminous sleigh is expected to take off from Oxnard Airport about 6 p.m. and swing by several landmarks on a 90-minute flight over Port Hueneme, Camarillo, Oxnard and Ventura.

Aspen Helicopter of Oxnard has again volunteered to help Santa’s sleigh--a 15-foot-high by 30-foot-long metal structure carrying two 5,000-watt generators and 12,000 light bulbs--become airborne.

“Five or six Aspen employees give up Christmas Eve because it’s a lot of fun,” said Rob Scherzinger, an Aspen helicopter pilot.

“We target the areas with high concentrations of kids.”

Scherzinger said the sleigh will be hoisted by a 100-foot cable connected to a helicopter.

“It’s not the easiest thing in the world to fly, but seasoned personnel can do it,” Scherzinger said.

Santa’s flight schedule is as follows:

Oxnard Airport, 6 p.m; Oxnard Shores, 6:03; Silver Strand Beach, 6:05; Port Hueneme Beach Park, 6:10; South Oxnard, 6:13; East Oxnard, 6:18; Colonia, 6:20; Camarillo Airport, 6:25; East Camarillo, 6:30; Mission Oaks area, 6:35; North Camarillo, 6:40; El Rio and Nyeland Acres, 6:45; Saticoy, 6:50; East Ventura, 6:55; Foothill Road, 7; Grant Park, 7:05; East Ventura Avenue, 7:10; Ventura Fairgrounds, 7:20; Ventura Keys, 7:25; Oxnard Airport, 7:30.