Deliveries Expected In 2011

The official presentation of the first ATR '-600 series' aircraft, an ATR 72-600, will take place at a ceremony October 1st in Toulouse, France. ATR said in a news release the new '-600 series' program for both models, ATR 72-600 and ATR 42-600, launched in October 2007, is progressing on schedule.

The first ATR 72-600 aircraft started its flight trials campaign on July 24, 2009 after being powered-on in December 2008. Flight trials for the first ATR 42-600 aircraft will take place next year.

These two aircraft should make some 150 and 75 flight hours respectively in order to test the new equipment, including a new avionics suite and the most modern navigation aid tools.

The ATR '-600 series' aircraft, powered with PW 127M engines, take an additional 1,100 pounds on MTOW (Maximum Take-off weight) and MZFW (Maximum Zero Fuel Weight). These aircraft will feature the lowest fuel consumption per passenger and the lowest CO2 emissions, thus positioning themselves as one of the most ecological solutions for regional transportation. The ATR '-600 series will be fitted with a new cabin, which is currently under development.

Certification should lead to the entry into service of the first commercial ATR 72-600s and ATR 42-600s in 2011. In the two years since the launch of this program, ATR has already booked orders for 59 ATR '-600 series' aircraft, 5 ATR 42-600s and 54 ATR 72-600s.

FMI: www.atraircraft.com