Page 34 - AAA MAY - JUNE 2018 Online Magazine

excess of 420 ATRs are operational in Asia
and four of the top ten ATR operating coun-
tries globally fall in the Asia Pacific region.
Operators are also using ATRs to open up
hitherto unconnected routes in Asia, with 70
new routes created last year alone. Indonesia
is the biggest operator of ATR aircraft glob-
ally with 12 operators flying approximately
100 aircraft. While India currently has an esti-
mated 50 ATRs operational in airline fleets. In
the next few years, India is likely to overtake
Indonesia as country with the largest fleet of
ATR aircraft. Indian Low Cost Carrier (LCC)
Major Milestone IndiGo had placed orders for up to 50 ATRs
eonardo completed delivery of its 1,500th fuselage to in May 2017 and as of May, had an opera-
the ATR consortium in June, marking an important mile- tional fleet of eight aircraft.
stone in the regional aircraft programme. “The ATR’s
Lcommercial success proves how the aircraft’s perfor- STOL ATR
mance, operational flexibility, cost-effectiveness in-service ATR could soon also launch a Short Take-Off
and reduced environmental impact have represented, for over and Landing (STOL) variant of its regional
commuter. The ATR 42-600S is an effort to
develop an ATR variant that can take-off and
land in the most challenging conditions, espe-
cially in terms of runways that can be as short
as 800m. In November 2017, ATR said that
as soon as it has customers for a STOL ATR
variant it would proceed with the programme.
A substantial amount of work has already
been done. As per ATR, there around 25 air-
ports with runway lengths of 800-900m that
are operational and another 100 that do not
have commercial operations. The immediate
business opportunity viewed by ATR, is that
aircraft popular for STOL operations, such as
the Bombardier Dash 8 100/200 (30 seats)
or Twin Otters (19 seats) have unpressurised
cabins and no toilets making them uncom-
the last 30 years since the beginning of the programme, a ref- fortable for passengers. ATR feels that the
erence point for the regional air transport industry thanks to 50 seat ATR 42-600S would be the ideal
the excellent project’s characteristics and also to the contin- candidate for STOL operations, as it would
uous technological upgrades”, said Mr. Alessandro Profumo, offer unbeatable trip costs, commonality in
Leonardo’s Chief Executive Officer. Christian Scherer, ATR’s pilot training and offer more seats. Some of
Chief Executive Officer said, ‘The contribution of Leonardo the key aspects of the ATR 42-600S would
over the last ten years to double the production of fuselages be certified steep approach capability and
and match the increasing market demand has been crucial to reverse thrust certification for operation
securing our market leading position.’ Leonardo’s Pomigliano on runways contaminated with ice or com-
D’Arco production line builds the aircraft fuselages, before they pact snow. Since the ATR 42 and 72 share
are shipped to ATRs facility in Toulouse for assembly. ATRs the same engine, only a software change
production cycle takes 12 weeks. is required to enable the additional thrust.
A STOL variant of the ATR is an innovative
Asia Pacific a Growth Market approach and it will be interesting to see if
The airframer is eyeing the burgeoning market in in the Asia the company will be able to bring this new
Pacific region where it sees a requirement for an estimated 750 offering to fruition.
turboprops within the next two decades (excluding China). In

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