Track or Call Santa this Christmas

Did you know that NORAD (and earlier predecessor CONAD) have been tracking Santa’s flight for more than 50 years. It has become a tradition in many homes on Christmas Eve day to follow where Santa is and wait for him to get around the world to our neck of the woods. If you have not done this year, check it out on December 24 and let your kids watch in awe! Wondering how this all started? Check out NORADs Website for pictures and more neat information on this tradition!

The tradition began in 1955 after a Colorado Springs-based Sears Roebuck & Co. advertisement misprinted the telephone number for children to call Santa. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone number put kids through to the CONAD Commander-in-Chief’s operations “hotline.” The Director of Operations at the time, Colonel Harry Shoup, had his staff check the radar for indications of Santa making his way south from the North Pole. Children who called were given updates on his location, and a tradition was born.

Did you know that you actually can call NORAD and speak to someone about Santa’s location, yup, how cool is that?!?!

I would rather talk to someone at NORAD to find out where Santa is located. Is there a number I can call?

Yes! The NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center is fully operational beginning at 3:00 a.m. MST on December 24th. You can call 1 877 HI-NORAD (1 877 446-6723) to talk directly to a NORAD staff member who will be able to tell you Santa’s exact location. Operators are available until 3:00 a.m. on Dec. 25th to answer your calls!

Does NORAD have any statistics on Santa’s sleigh?

NORAD can confirm that Santa’s sleigh is a versatile, all weather, multi-purpose, vertical short-take-off and landing vehicle. It is capable of traveling vast distances without refueling and is deployed, as far as we know, only on December 24th (and sometimes briefly for a test flight about a month before Christmas).

Sleigh Technical Data

Sleigh Technical Data
Designer & Builder	K. Kringle & Elves, Inc.
Probable First Flight	Dec. 24, 343 A.D.
Home Base	North Pole
Length	75 cc (candy canes) / 150 lp (lollipops)
Width	40 cc / 80 lp
Height	55 cc / 110 lp
Note: Length, width and height are without reindeer
Weight at takeoff	75,000 gd (gumdrops)
Passenger weight at takeoff	Santa Claus 260 pounds
Weight of gifts at takeoff	60,000 tons
Weight at landing	80,000 gd (ice & snow accumulation)
Passenger weight at landing	1,260 pounds
Propulsion	Nine (9) rp (reindeer power)
Armament	Antlers (purely defensive)
Fuel	Hay, oats and carrots (for reindeer)
Emissions	Classified
Climbing speed	One “T” (Twinkle of an eye)
Max speed	Faster than starlight