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FeatuRe ATR

the classroom has to be deployed, there are
two set-ups available; 13 laptops (one spare),
headphones and all cables are part of the
‘Lightweight’ version, while the ‘Heavyweight’
version includes twelve auxiliary screens and
an HD video projector with its own screen.
Since only eight trainees (or at most twelve),
are required for a mobile classroom session,
the cost of actual training per trainee is
lower than at a Training Center, even though
the training material is the same as that
provided at ATR’s Training Centers.
ATR also inaugurated its new aeronautical
maintenance facility at Toulouse-Francazal
airport in July, where it has made substantial
investments to set-up a comprehensive MRO
site dedicated for the long-term. ATR’s Part 145
maintenance activities for all of its customers
worldwide (maintenance, servicing and repairs
plus related training activities), will now take
place at the new site. “Technicians from around
the world will come to train at Toulouse-
Francazal airport thanks to these Part 145 and
147 certifications. For ATR, this new facility was
vital for supporting our growth,” said Patrick
de Castelbajac, ATR CEO while inaugurating
the facility. ATR’s ‘prototype’ activities will now
also be based at Francazal and two prototype
aircraft, an ATR 42-600 and ATR 72-600,
will shortly be available for the testing new
technologies. The hangar at the Toulouse-
Francazal facility will be able to accommodate
two aircraft and construction of a 1,200 m²
building able to accommodate up to 80 people
is also underway.

few theory courses. Mobile Classroom has had 12 of its trainees make use of the new toP: Pratt & Whitney Canada and
changed all that; it’s a high-performance, travelling classroom. In June, to meet a GE are said to be in contention for
totally mobile training system.” Now training training requirement from the Aeronautica a proposal to re-engine the ATR
leading to official qualifications (in particular Militare (Italian Air Force), the mobile kit family. Such an effort will have
lower risk and a faster time to
licences B1 and B2) can be provided directly was sent to the NATO base in Sicily to train market, with the end result of ATR
on the customer’s premises. “We are head 16 people (in two groups). ATR is already delivering an even more efficient
and shoulders above the competition in investing in additional resources to keep aircraft to customers sooner than
terms of teaching technique and learning up with demand and four complete Mobile they expect
results, notably on the ATR-600, thanks to Classroom kits will be available by autumn MiDDLe: Significant investments
the expertise of our Training Centers,” Baldini 2016. The Mobile Classroom essentially, is are being made to upgrade ATR
confidently asserts. The Mobile Classroom package that contains all of the teaching MRO and training capabilities.
offering took-off in March with Bahamasair material necessary for a dozen trainees. ATR’s ‘Mobile Classroom’ which is
a new travelling Training Center
and in May, Thailand Aviation Industries Depending on the type of premises where system, is the latest instance of
such efforts
28 ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAA