The ATR 72 is a twin-turboprop short-haul regional airliner built in France by the ATR company (Avions de Transport Régional). The airplane seats up to 74 passengers and is operated by a 2 person crew.

History

The ATR 72 is a lengthened version (by 4.5 m, 14 ft 9 in) of the ATR 42, with modified wings. It was announced at the 1985 Paris Air show and made its maiden flight on October 27, 1988. Exactly one year after that, on October 27 1989, commuter airline Kar Air of Finland became the first company to put the plane into service.

Partners

ATR benefits from the experience of two of the major leading European aerospace industries, Alenia Aeronautica and EADS, who each have a 50% share in the ATR programme.

EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company) is a joint-venture between Aerospatiale Matra SA (France), Construcciones Aeronàuticas SA (Spain) and Daimler Chrysler Aerospace AG (Germany) which started July 10th, 2000.

Alenia Aeronautica is part of the Italian Finmeccanica group.

ATR was setup as a consortium in November 1981 when Aerospatiale (now part of EADS) and Aeritalia (now Alenia Aeronautica) merged their regional aircraft designs into one. The ATR product range was officially launched on November 4th 1981 with the signature by both companies of the Cooperation Agreement.

Production locations

Alenia Aeronautica’s manufacturing facilities in Pomigliano near Naples, (Italy), produce the aircraft fuselage and tail sections. Aircraft wings are assembled at EADS Sogerma Services in Bordeaux in western France for Airbus France.
Final assembly, flight-testing, certification and deliveries are under the responsibility of ATR in Toulouse, France.

Variants

There are three main variants:
AT 72-200, the original production version
ATR 72-210, with uprated engines
ATR 72-500, originally named the ATR 72-210A, with higher weights and improved airfield performance.
The first ATR 72 freighter with a large cargo door was unveiled at Farnborough 2002.

Deliveries

At March 2003, 370 ATR 42 have been ordered and 306 ATR 72, totalling 676 orders. Of these orders, 655 have been delivered.
There are 109 operators of the complete ATR range (ATR 42 and ATR 72) in 72 countries.

Details

Accommodation: 2 crew + 74 passengers
Cargo/baggage:10.6 cubic metres (375 ft³)
Max speed: 275 kt (509 km/h)
Range: 910 nautical miles (1,685 km)
Wingspan: 27.1 m (88 ft 9 in)
Length: 27.2 m (89 ft 2 in)
Height: 7.7 m (25 ft 2 in)

Website

http://www.atraircraft.com