Page 26 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2016 Online Magazine

FeatuRe ATR

Staying Ahead of the Pack

Continuous improvement is ATR’s way of staying ahead
By Atul Chandra

ReGionaL tRansPoRt aiRCRaFt (Rta) efforts that will see fruition in the mid- improvement for Asian customers, as it
specialist ATR forecasts that over the next term, “We are evaluating the business case will further enhance operations on airfields
20 years, 38 percent of the demand for its as well as the technical developments for surrounded by high terrain, is RNP-AR 0.3
aircraft, totalling 2800 turboprop deliveries, a 100-seater,” Tom Anderson ATR’s Senior (Required Navigation Performance with
will be delivered into the Asia-Pacific Vice President Commercial & Customer Authorization Required). The technology will
region and China (27 percent and 11 percent Support, tells Asian Airlines & Aerospace. also lead to a reduction in fuel consumption
respectively). ATR also expects that in excess Having already certified a new ‘High Density’ and CO2 emissions. RNP-AR 0.3 systems
of 600 routes could be created in Asia- HD cabin for up to 78 passengers, he says, are currently under development, and its
Pacific (excluding China); with the average “We understand that the amount of the certification is expected by mid-2017. ATR
annual fleet growth at 4.2 percent, this would investment for a larger capacity turboprop is also offering customers its ClearVision
be eight times greater than mature markets. may focus our attention to the development of (Enhanced Flight Vision System) which will
It is in this context that preserving its a 100-seater rather than a 90-seater aircraft.” enable reduced minima for landings up to a
existing partnerships with airline customers ATR is also working closely with aircraft distance of 50 feet; it will be an alternative to
in the region and providing them with timely engine manufacturers to further optimise CATIII in airports without ILS and according
solutions to meet their requirements, is of operating costs. “Our aim is to decrease by at to ATR officials is a ‘First’ in commercial
vital importance to ATR, if it is to retain its least 15 percent the operating costs per seat aviation. Civil approval for the technology is
lead in the face of increasing completion in with new engine on the current platform.” forecasted soon and it is already in service
the RTA space. The current powerplant available on ATR 72- in military aviation. Once certification is
Important developments are underfoot 600s and ATR 42-600s is the Pratt & Whitney obtained, ClearVision will create business
at the Toulouse, Southern France based Canada PW127M turboprop engine which opportunities for airlines (increase service
turboprop aircraft manufacturer, that was was certified in 2008. The PW127M delivers regularity, optimise operations), at the same
established 35 years ago in November 1981. five percent additional power, compared time bringing about a significant reduction of
The airframer is deeply involved in several to the older PW127F engine. Another key fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
26 ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAA