ATR 42

ATR-42 Country of Origin Type History France and Italy 42 seat turboprop regional airliner

Cockpit photo

Aerospatiale and Aeritalia (now Alenia) established Avions de Transport Regional as a Groupement d'Intret Economique under French law to develop a family of regional airliners. The ATR-42 was the consortium's first aircraft and was launched in October 1981. The first of two ATR-42 prototypes flew for the first time on August 16 1984. Italian and French authorities granted certification in September 1985 and the first ATR-42 entered airline service on December 9 1985. The initial ATR-42-300 was the standard production version of the ATR-42 family until 1996 and features greater payload range and a higher takeoff weight than the prototypes. The similar ATR-42-320 (also withdrawn in 1996) differed in having the more powerful PW-121 engines for better hot and high performance, while the ATR-42 Cargo is a quick change freight/passenger version of the 42-300. The ATR-42-500 is the first significantly improved version of the aircraft and features a revised interior, more powerful PW-127Es for a substantially increased cruising speed (565km/h/305kt) driving six blade propellers, a 1850km (1000nm) maximum range, the EFIS cockpit, elevators and rudders of the stretched ATR-72 (described separately), plus new brakes and landing gear and strengthened wing and fuselage for higher weights. The first ATR-42-500 delivery was in October 1995. ATR was part of Aero International (Regional), the regional airliner consortium established in January 1996 to incorporate ATR, Avro and Jetstream. AI(R) handled sales, marketing and support for both the ATRs, plus the Avro RJs and the Jetstream 41, until its disbandment in mid 1998 when ATR regained its independence.

Power plant

ATR-42-300 - Two flat rated 1340kW (1800shp) Pratt & Whitney Canada PW-120 turboprops driving four blade c/s Hamilton Standard propellers. ATR-42-320 - Two flat rated 1417kW (1900shp) PW-121s. ATR-42-500 - Two PW-127Es derated to 1610kW (2160shp) driving six blade RatierFagiec/Hamilton Standard props. ATR-42-300 - Max cruising speed 490km/h (265kt) economical cruising speed 450km/h (243kt). Range with max fuel and reserves at max cruising speed 4480km (2420nm), or 5040km (2720nm) at economical cruising speed. ATR-42-320 - Same as ATR-42-300 except max cruising speed 498km/h (269kt). ATR-42-500 - Cruising speed 563km/h (304kt). Max range 1850km (1000nm). ATR-42-300 - Operating empty 10,285kg (22,674lb), max takeoff 16,700kg (36,817lb). ATR-42-320 - Operating empty 10,290kg (22,685lb), max takeoff as per 42-300. ATR-42-500 - Operating empty 11,250kg (24,802lb), max takeoff 18,600kg (41,005lb). Wing span 24.57m (80ft 8in), length 22.67m (74ft 5in), height 7.59m (24ft 11in). Wing area 54.5m2 (586.6sq ft). Flightcrew of two. Maximum passenger accommodation for 50, 48 or 46 at 76cm (30in) pitch and four abreast. Typical seating arrangement for 42 at 81cm (32in) pitch. ATR-42 Cargo - Nine containers with a 4000kg payload. As at late 1998 total orders for all versions of the ATR-42 stood at 343 with 336 delivered

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Production

Cabin View