albatross
After Q1 2010 we should be able to go down to -6000' DA, however I agree that the aircraft will still have a problem in places like Canada in winter. EC realise this as well and its their stated intention to address the issue in a more fundamental way (ie modifying the control run geometry etc). But this is not going to happen quickly so I think you are right, there will not be many EC225s in N Canada, Siberia etc for some time!
HC