World’s largest passenger jet returns to Iqaluit

JOHN THOMPSON

The world’s largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380, arrived in Iqaluit for its second bout of cold weather testing, on Monday, Jan. 29.

Iqaluit’s airport manager, John Graham, describes the aircraft as a “big beast” for good reason.

The plane’s massive engines are about the same size as the fuselage of a Boeing 737. “You could almost put a 737 into the intake of that engine,” he says.

When the airplane is fitted entirely for economy seating, it holds 873 people. That means that a mid-sized community in Nunavut could fit inside just one aircraft.

And the company has successfully evacuated that many people from the plane in just 90 seconds, with half of the doors sealed shut.

With its standard three-class seating arrangement, the aircraft holds 555 passengers – roughly equal to the population of Qikiqtarjuaq.

The so-called Superjumbo has enough space that one customer, Virgin Atlantic Airways, has announced plans to include casinos, double beds, gymnasiums and showers inside its A380s.

Each plane contains about 500 kilometres of wiring.

Its engines are built to meet strict noise requirements for some international airports. However, when the A380 prepares for lift-off, its rumbling roar can be heard on the far side of Iqaluit.

The Airbus A380 received certification from European and North American authorities in December 2006. This year, Airbus is testing how the cabin of the aircraft, rather than its mechanics, reacts to extreme cold.

That’s why Fernando Alonso, vice president of flight testing, says he hopes Graham “will be ordering some -35 for us.”

Some tests involve leaving the plane powered off over night, then turning it on, to see if it starts. This will be repeated about three times, if it stays cold enough.

“If we get two shots at -35, I’ll be happy,” Alonso said.

Airbus has used Iqaluit for cold-weather testing of its planes for the last decade. Alonso says his employees always receive a friendly reception, although some were upset to hear their favourite fast food outlet, The Snack, had burned down Thursday last week.

No Canadian airlines have yet purchased the A380, but the company has orders from Singapore, Australia, and the United Emirates. First deliveries of the planes should begin October 2007, Alonso said.

One A380 costs between $350 million and $374 million, depending on equipment installed.