Monday, February 06, 2006

CBC North - Jumbo jet's arrival called 'a milestone'

Last updated Feb 6 2006 07:33 AM MST
CBC News
The biggest passenger plane in the world is expected to arrive in Iqaluit Monday.

The Airbus A380 is coming to the Nunavut capital for five days of cold weather testing.

All commercial aircraft have to be tested for cold-weather performance before they can be certified, and Iqaluit, with its international airport and climate, is often used for the purpose.

The jumbo jet can carry 555 passengers, weighs 273 tonnes and has a wing span of 80 metres. It's scheduled to go into service later this year.

"This is the first arrival of the Airbus A380 in North America," says John Graham, manager of the Iqaluit airport. "And honestly this is a milestone in the airport's history, a milestone for Canadian aviation."

The Airbus A380's takeoff was delayed by about an hour this morning in France, and it's now expected to arrive in Iqaluit at around 10 a.m. ET.

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