Iqaluit (Jan 08/07) - If Mother Nature cooperates, Iqaluit could play host to a few of the world's largest aircraft in the run of a single week.

The makers of the A380, the world's largest passenger aircraft, are planning another series of cold-weather tests in Iqaluit that could start as early as this week. The first round of testing was conducted in February 2006.

Airbus company brass celebrate the unveiling of the massive A380 passenger jet in this 2005 handout photo. A pair of the planes are scheduled to come to Iqaluit for cold-weather testing in the coming weeks. - photo courtesy of Airbus

"I can't give an exact date because it's weather dependent," John Graham, director of Iqaluit Airports, said of the latest expected visit.

One of two A380s could arrive in the next few days, with another one right on its heels. The second A380 will be subjected to a "cabin cold soak test," which consists of opening the cabin doors to let the plane's interior freeze, then closing the doors to observe what happens when the interior thaws.

The A380 is the world's largest passenger plane, capable of seating 550 passengers on two levels.

Graham said the engines on an A380 are about the same diameter as the fuselage of the Boeing 737s commonly seen flying in and out of Iqaluit. The presence of two of the hulking birds is also a milestone for the capital, since there are only five A380s planes in existence, Graham said.

"We'll be the first airport in the world to host two of them," he said.

Cold-weather testing requires temperatures below -30 C. Iqaluit, with its military-grade runway and cold, dry winters would seem to be an ideal location, but tests last year nearly had to be called off due to unseasonably warm weather.

Graham said he's keeping his fingers crossed and temperatures are forecast to drop in the Baffin region this week.

"It's almost there," he said.

A third giant aircraft, the 124 Antonov, was slated to arrive Saturday with a Eurocopter 725, a medium-sized military transport helicopter, on board. The Antonov is the world's largest transport plane.

The Eurocopter 725, which according to the German aerospace magazine Flug Revue is capable of carrying three machine guns, two cannons and two rocket launchers. a medium-sized military transport helicopter, will also undergocold weather testing.