ATR 72

ATR 72 is a twin-engine turboprop short-haul regional airliner built by the Avions de Transport Régional consortium, a joint venture between Airbus and Leonardo. The ATR 72 is a stretched version of the ATR 42, with a longer fuselage and increased passenger capacity, and is used by airlines such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. The ATR 72 has also been used by cargo operators like FedEx Express and UPS Airlines. The aircraft has undergone significant development and modernization, with the latest version being the ATR 72-600, which features improved engines and avionics.

Introduction

The ATR 72 was first introduced in 1989, with the first delivery to Karair, a Finnish airline, and has since become a popular choice for regional airlines, including Air Canada, Lufthansa, and Qantas. The aircraft's reliability and fuel efficiency have made it an attractive option for operators, with many airlines using it to connect smaller cities to major hubs, such as Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Frankfurt Airport, and Sydney Airport. The ATR 72 has also been used by governments and private companies, including the Royal Australian Air Force and Bristow Group. The aircraft's versatility has led to its use in a variety of roles, including passenger transport, cargo transport, and medical evacuation, with operators like Red Cross and UNICEF.

Design and Development

The ATR 72 was designed to be a stretched version of the ATR 42, with a longer fuselage and increased passenger capacity, and was developed in collaboration with Alenia Aermacchi and EADS. The aircraft features a high-wing design, with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127 engine, and has a maximum takeoff weight of 22,800 kg, allowing it to operate from smaller airports like London City Airport and New York LaGuardia Airport. The ATR 72 has undergone significant modernization, with the introduction of new avionics and engines, including the Thales TopDeck cockpit and the Hamilton Sundstrand APU. The aircraft has also been certified by regulatory authorities, including the European Aviation Safety Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration, and has been used by airlines like Turkish Airlines and China Eastern Airlines.

Operational History

The ATR 72 has been used by airlines around the world, including Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and Singapore Airlines, and has been involved in several notable events, including the 2010 Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight 836 incident, which occurred at Rendani Airport in Indonesia. The aircraft has also been used in humanitarian missions, such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake relief efforts, with operators like Doctors Without Borders and World Food Programme. The ATR 72 has been used by governments, including the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force, and has been involved in several military operations, including the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War, with support from NATO and the United Nations.

Variants

The ATR 72 has several variants, including the ATR 72-200, ATR 72-210, and ATR 72-600, each with different engine and avionics configurations, and has been used by airlines like Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines. The aircraft has also been used in cargo configurations, such as the ATR 72-200F and ATR 72-600F, which are used by cargo operators like DHL Aviation and TNT Airways. The ATR 72 has been used in other roles, including medical evacuation and surveillance, with operators like Australian Federal Police and US Customs and Border Protection.

Operators

The ATR 72 is used by several airlines, including Azul Brazilian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and Spirit Airlines, and has been used by governments and private companies, including the Government of Canada and Bristow Helicopters. The aircraft is also used by cargo operators, such as FedEx Express and UPS Airlines, and has been used in humanitarian missions, such as the 2013 Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts, with support from Red Cross and UNICEF. The ATR 72 has been used by airlines in Asia, Europe, and the Americas, including Air China, Lufthansa, and American Airlines.

Specifications

The ATR 72 has a maximum takeoff weight of 22,800 kg and a maximum range of 825 nmi, with a service ceiling of 25,000 ft, and is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127 engines, each producing 2,750 shp, and has a maximum cruise speed of 315 knots, with a typical passenger capacity of 70-78 passengers, depending on the configuration, and has been certified by regulatory authorities, including the European Aviation Safety Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration, and has been used by airlines like Turkish Airlines and China Eastern Airlines. The aircraft has a length of 27.17 m and a wingspan of 27.05 m, with a height of 7.65 m, and has been used by operators like Royal Australian Air Force and US Air Force. Category:Aircraft