Here’s how NORAD tracks Santa Claus on Christmas Eve

Brig. Gen. Thaddeus Fineran shares how the North American Aerospace Defense Command is able to track Santa’s journey across the world.

A cherished annual tradition is underway, helping Santa Claus make a safe journey across North America.

On Wednesday, Christmas Eve, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is at the ready to help track and escort the jolly man in the red suit on the long journey across the continent to deliver gifts to all those on his nice list.

Brig. Gen. Thaddeus Fineran, U.S. Northern Command’s deputy director of operations, told CP24 that the program is able to track Santa through a binational partnership between Canada and the U.S.

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Speaking from NORAD headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Fineran explained that a series of factors help contribute to successfully tracking Saint Nick’s big journey - a series of overhead satellite systems that can detect infrared signature, ground-based radar systems and the partnership of the fighter aircraft between Canada and the U.S.

“It’s really a combined and all domain effort to track Santa this one special day of the year,” he said.

The program has been tracking Santa for the past 70 years and started out as an accident, Fineran added.

NORAD’s call centre, which protects the North American continent from airspace or maritime incursions, got a call on Christmas Eve from a young child who wanted to know of Santa’s whereabouts.

“It’s gone fantastic ever since,” Fineran said. “We’re able to use satellite systems, keep a tab on him and… clear him into the airspace for Canada, the U.S. and make sure that he has a safe and effective journey across North America.”

While he admits it’s challenging to keep up with Santa because he moves so quickly, at the time of broadcast, he was spotted just outside of Kaiserslautern, Germany.

As for what time Santa is expected to arrive in Canadian airspace, Fineran said some time after 11 p.m. or so, which makes him ahead of schedule.

“It could be quick, the weather has been pretty good,” he said. “He’s been making pretty good time tonight. I would err on the side of going to bed early for those parents out there.”