European Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) specialist Avions de Transport Régional (ATR) has completed four decades of operations, emerging as the undisputed leader in the RTA segment.
The ATR 42/72’s are the bestselling aircraft in the less than 90-seat market segment, making the European airframer the world’s number one RTA manufacturer. ATR is well poised to build on its strong foundation of over 1,800 aircraft sold over the last four decades and has set ambitious milestones for the years to come.
According to ATR, approximately 900 ageing RTA’s will need to be replaced in the coming years, providing an emerging market opportunity for sustainable, cost-efficient, and modern aircraft. ATR’s product portfolio comprises the ATR 42-600, new ATR 42-600S, ATR 72-600, and new ATR 72-600F cargo variant. All ATRs are manufactured at Toulouse in France and ordered by approximately 200 companies from 100 countries.
The airframer’s 2019 turnover stood at $ 1.6 billion, but the unprecedented market conditions due to the pandemic meant it delivered only ten aircraft and received six gross orders in 2020. Efforts to return to normalcy, however, will be aided by the rapid recovery of the RTA market to near pre-pandemic levels by 2023.
Innovating To Stay Ahead
Over the last four decades, ATR has followed the mantra of continuous development and constantly updated its aircraft with the latest technologies, delivering tangible benefits to passengers and operators alike.
On the occasion of the company’s 40th anniversary, Stefano Bortoli, CEO, ATR, said, “Our story is one of innovation and progress. Over four decades, we have brought connectivity and economic opportunity to remote regions across the globe. Most importantly, we will continue to make a difference, connecting people, businesses, and local communities in a sustainable way over the next 40 years. We will support our customers by providing them with the latest available technologies, paving the way for zero-emission aviation by 2050.”
Compared with regional jets, ATR aircraft burn and emit up to 40% less fuel and CO2. On an average 550km route, an ATR 72-600 save 4,000 tonne of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere.
ATR plans to fly its aircraft on 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) by 2025. A demonstration flight is scheduled for 2022, with Braathens Regional Airlines’ which will fly an ATR with 100% SAF in one engine and 50% SAF in the other. This could result in a reduction in emissions of up to 64%. According to ATR, using 100% SAF in both engines could reduce CO2 emissions by 82% (when flying a typical route flown by Braathens).
ATR expects to start deliveries of its new ATR 42-600S Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) version to customers by 2025, allowing airline operators to start operations from runways airstrips between 800 and 1,000m in length. This will allow operators to open up connectivity to 500 additional airports with short runways. The ATR 42-600S was launched in October 2019 and targeted the market niche for a 50-seater aircraft. ATR hopes to expand the addressable market by 25%, in addition to targeting the 30-seater STOL segment with the new aircraft. The ATR 42-600S will be able to take off from runways as short as 800m with 40 passengers on board in standard flight conditions (15°C airfield temperature, sea level, dry paved runway, and a route of 200NM). The 42-600S will use the same engine as that on the ATR 42/72, but pilots will be able to select engine ratings based on the need for increased power during STOL operations or to operate more efficiently on longer runways using less power. The 42-600S will also feature a larger rudder, allowing increased control of the aircraft at lower speeds and also come with an auto brake system, ensuring full braking power immediately on touchdown.
ATR is bullish on market prospects for its ATR72-600F, which will target a potential market demand for 460 regional freighters over the next 20 years. The airframer states that it is well-positioned to benefit from the resilience of the cargo market, which is already at pre-COVID levels, with air cargo expected to double in capacity in the next two decades. The ATR 72-600F’s purpose-built fuselage has a 75 cubic-metre freight capacity and a large cargo door for optimal loading of nine tonne of payload. Operators will have the option of carrying either bulk cargo or five 88” x 108” pallets or up to seven LD3 containers when in Unit Load Device mode. Approximately 1/3rd of the regional freighter fleet is made of ATRs, with over 130 converted ATR freighters in operation, and the type is best suited for point-to-point express deliveries.
Successful Contender
For many Indian air travellers, the ubiquitous, twin-engine turboprop ATR 42 and 72 RTAs have been a familiar sight over the nation’s skies for more than two decades. The now-defunct Jet Airways was the first carrier to introduce the turboprop RTA type into Indian skies in 1999 with a fleet of leased ATR72-500s, but the type gained popularity with Air Deccan and was also ordered by Kingfisher Airlines (all three airlines are not operating anymore). IndiGo and Alliance Air are the major operators of the type in India. IndiGo has 50 ATRs on order and took delivery of its first ATR 72-600 in November 2017. IndiGo had a total of 33 ATR 72-600s in its fleet (as of September 30), while Alliance Air has a fleet of 18 ATR72-600s.
The ATR 42 and ATR 72 series are popular with airline operators due to their high levels of commonality, sharing the same fuselage cross-section, using the same systems, sharing the same engines and propellers, etc., with approximately 90% of the spare parts common to both models. In addition, the use of the same cockpit allowed for Common Type Rating or Cross Crew Qualification to deliver significant cost savings for operators in-flight crew training and maintenance.
The highly successful ATR 72-600 series entered the market in 2011, delivering seat and trip costs 10% and 20% lower, respectively, than other in-production turboprops. It later received the new Armonia cabin, LED cabin lighting and included A320 size over-head bins and A320 size seats. It also featured a complete glass cockpit with Performance-Based Navigation. The availability of a satellite-based navigation system allowed operations from airstrips, which did not have a ground-based navigation system, such as an Instrument Landing System. ATR was also the first commercial aircraft-maker to offer a vision system that provides either enhanced or synthetic vision or a combination of the two. Marketed as ‘ClearVision’, the system provided pilots with better situational awareness in conditions of reduced visibility, such as at night or in bad weather.