Santa tracker
Track Santa this Christmas
For this special journey Santa doesn’t just appear as one of our aircraft icons. Instead, users can follow along with his dedicated reindeer drawn sleigh. The flight begins each year at 08:00 UTC on 23 December when Santa begins to warm up his reindeer and test his sleigh. We use a bit of special Christmas magic to track the flight alongside our usual mix of terrestrial and satellite-based ADS-B coverage. Santa is also helpfully able to extend the reach of his transponder by using the reindeer antlers as additional antenna.
How to track Santa's sleigh
Track Santa in 3D by pressing the 3D button in the bottom left corner of flight info panel on the web or in the app.
Santa’s team of dedicated Sleigh mechanics and reindeer powerplant specialists work throughout the year to ensure everything is in peak condition for his Christmas Eve deliveries. Based on filed flight plans and conversations with Elf Traffic Control, Santa is currently scheduled to depart the North Pole around 08:00 UTC on the 23rd to make his way to the first houses as night falls in the far eastern time zones.
How do we track Santa's flight?
Santa’s sleigh is an unique 9-engine Rangifer tarandus registered HOHOHO (MSN 0001). At 1,753 years old, it’s the oldest active airframe in the world. While the sleigh itself is ancient, a ninth power plant was added a number of years ago on an instrument flight rules-conditions Christmas Eve due to fog. This nose so bright has guided Santa’s way each Christmas Eve since 1939.
More recently, we’ve worked closely with Santa’s workshop to ensure the sleigh is outfitted with the latest tracking technology. An ADS-B transponder was installed a few years ago, allowing us to precisely track Santa’s position and help all good little children get to bed before he arrives. To enable Santa to check in with air traffic control, ICAO has issued the type designation SLEI.
Happy tracking and a merry Christmas to all!
Santa Tracker FAQs
Santa typically departs from the North Pole around 08:00 UTC on December 23rd, making his way to the first houses as night falls in the far eastern time zones.
To enable Santa to check in with air traffic control, the ICAO has issued the type designation SLEI for Santa’s sleigh.
Yes, you can track Santa on Flightradar24 using the dedicated iOS and Android app, in addition to the website.
