The CAA finally caught up with their backlog of paperwork and realised that Santa had never been licensed as a pilot.

After a protracted exchange of correspondence the CAA insisted that he was tested and a date arranged.

At the prearranged date the examiner turned up at Santa’s home and gave Santa the exam briefing.

After the briefing Santa put the Reindeer into their harnesses and attached them to the sleigh (pre-flight checks). The examiner was checking things off on his clipboard and checking everything Santa did. Once the pre-flight checks were complete and a weather forecast re-checked Santa asked the examiner if he could take off.

The examiner looked a bit flustered and said he had left something in his 4x4 and got out of the sleigh. He returned with a shotgun.

Santa asked ‘What is the gun for? I am a man of peace and goodwill’

The examiner replied ‘ I shouldn’t really tell you this but as a test condition you are going to suffer engine failure on take off’