Originally Posted by
Humidifier
Flying over northern Canada the other day, we had a bit of a discussion in the flightdeck about the usability of CYYQ (Churchill) and CYFB (Iqaluit aka Frobisher Bay) as diversion alternates. Both seem to have a published limitation on the maximum wing span on the main landing runway. Take CYFB. The electronic version of the jeppesen airway manual airport directory states a wingspan limit of max 51 m, which would make it unsuitable for our 60 m wide B787. However, my non-updated paper version Jepp AD doesn’t have that limit. Our own OM-C lists it as a usable alternate. I checked some other (old) OM-C’s. Quatar approves it for their 777, and Emirates is even happy to put an A380 there. To top that off, British A landed a 787-9 on 12 sept last year at Iqualuit. Generally speaking, i find it very unusual to have a wingspan limit on a long enough instrument landing runway with standard width. Beyond the obvious “in a dire emergency i will put it down anyhere”, i feel that i am missing something here. Anybody any thoughts?
I don't know about Churchill, but we did 747-8 cold weather testing at Iqaluit (I was there - -30 deg C and wind) and my understanding is so did the A380. I also seem to recall a 777 diversion to Iqaluit after an engine failure a few winters back - made news because they had to do an engine replacement there and it took a while. So Iqaluit is obviously capable of 747 operations and probably A380 as well.