Tanzanian Carrier Has Orders For Seven New Turboprops

Tanzania's Precision Air Services accepted delivery this week of its first ATR 72-500. This first delivery follows a deal inked in 2006, for the purchase of six new -500-series ATRs. In 2007, the airline booked an additional ATR 42-500.

With these seven new aircraft, Precision Air Services will renew its ATR fleet, which currently consists of four ATR 42-320s and three ATR 72-210s. The remaining six ATRs are to be delivered from 2008 through 2010.

The delivery ceremony took place at ATR's final assembly line in Toulouse with Michael Shirima, the Board of Directors Chairman of Precision Air Services, Hon Basil Mramba, Guest of Honour and Honorable Member of the Parliament of Tanzania and Stephane Mayer, ATR CEO.

Shirima said "he was pleased to take delivery of the first 'ATR-500 series', thus launching the modernization of our turboprop fleet with the most efficient and advanced aircraft of the regional market. The ATRs are very well adapted to the extreme weather conditions of Africa, and have proven themselves to be extremely reliable throughout our network.

"The performance of the '-500s' in hot and high environments will allow us to optimize our operating costs and will successfully contribute to the expansion of our network," he added.

"In the last two years, we have also sold almost 30 new aircraft to African carriers, a success that confirms the growth of the regional networks across the continent," Mayer said. "Because of their ability to operate in all kinds of operating environments, with their ease of maintenance, reduced operating costs and environment friendliness, the ATR aircraft are very well adapted to the regional routes in Africa."

FMI: www.precisionairtz.com, www.atraircraft.com