Reindeer and Test Pilots in Training
Activity is buzzing at both North Pole Flight Command and the Kringle Reindeer Center as both test pilots and test flight reindeer are in training.
As North Pole Flight Command reported the other day, the first prototypes of Santa’s new sleigh have been built and are on display. Crowds of elves anxious to see what Santa might be flying this year have already visited Flight Command to get a glimpse of it.
Test pilots are in training and are working flight simulators in advance of the first test flights scheduled for the first week of June.
Teams of test flight reindeer have been in camp at the North Pole training for those flights at the Kringle Reindeer Center.
There are more than 150 test flight reindeer but we are told the Reindeer Operations Department are gearing up for the arrival, care, training and feeding of several hundred more that are expected to be called into service.
“We are a little late in some respects for the test flight process,” said Elf Z, the associate director of Santa Trackers who works at Flight Command. “The target to start test flights has always been the first week of June but it took quite a bit longer than anticipated to get the design agreed upon, so they got started late in the build process. All we have is the prototype. The actual sleighs that they will be flying the first week of June aren’t actually built yet. So we are anticipating some schedule hiccups, at least for the first month or so.”
We have reached out to Elf Roger Star, director of Flight Command, to shed some light on the rumors of more reindeer being called in, but he hasn’t been available to comment.
We will keep you posted on the progress of Santa’s sleigh in development for this year. For more information, please listen to the North Pole Radio News report in the player above.
- Reindeer and Test Pilots in Training - May 18, 2026
- Changes for Santa’s Flight - May 14, 2026
- Elves Given a Vacation Deadline - May 11, 2026
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