ATR 72 - an indispensable aircraft for regional airlines

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Passenger air travel has long been a part of our lives. This is the most reliable and fastest way to travel long distances. Of course, plane tickets are so expensive that they can compete with sea cruise ship tickets in terms of cost. The aircraft market is also filled with hundreds of different models. The ATP 72 is one of the few models designed for short distance flights. A significant plus is also the price of this aircraft. The low cost of the car itself and the relatively low cost of operation have a positive effect on the ticket price.

Small but irreplaceable

Large and roomy turbojets are good for long distances, but they can't be used on short routes. ATP 72 perfectly copes with this task. This plane lacks all the features that make short flights a problem for larger planes.

First of all, this is a medium-haul turboprop aircraft. Its length is only 27 meters! The target routes of such an aircraft are the airways of domestic airlines.

ATR 72 is devoid of jet or turbojet thrust. It is equipped with only two turboprop engines, which undoubtedly simplifies its operation. Maintenance of such engines is much easier, and besides, they consume less fuel, and its cost is much lower. Many have long been under the impression that propeller-driven aircraft are a terrible anachronism, a rarity and a ghost of the past. Practice says otherwise.

Aircraft similar to the ATP 72 excel at short, medium and even long haul flights. Turboprop engines are simple and reliable. They are used not only in civil aviation, but also in the military. Turboprop-powered military aircraft are used by the Russian Aerospace Forces and the US Air Force. This once again proves that there are no old engines in the aircraft industry. There are only tasks for which each aircraft is designed, and the engines meet the tasks set to the maximum.

A distinctive feature of the ATR 72 aircraft is that the wing boxes are completely made of carbon fiber. CFRP elements are used everywhere in aircraft construction. It is a strong and very light material, which is gradually replacing aircraft-grade aluminum. Other composite materials are also used in the construction. Such modern technologies make the aircraft much lighter, which increases its payload.

Can I replacesuch an aircraft? Of course not! This model is not only reliable and optimal for medium distances, but also suitable for short flights. Its indispensability is explained by its capacity. The plane can carry 74 passengers. For a short-haul aircraft, this is a lot, which means that the aircraft has good commercial efficiency.

Features

ATR 72 is controlled by 2 pilots. Management is classic and does not require long retraining. The plane is surprisingly obedient and manageable. Its base load capacity is about 7500 tons, which is quite a lot for a regional airlines aircraft. Top speed is about 511 km/h and cruising speed is 509 km/h.

The speed of this aircraft is not as high as the cruising speed of long haul turbojet passenger aircraft. This is not surprising, because its engines will not allow such a high speed, and it is not required.

Flaw

This aircraft has only one drawback, but it is noted by all pilots. The anti-icing system may not be able to cope with its task when adverse weather conditions occur during the cold season. For this reason, several disasters have occurred.

Grandfather of the 72nd

Practically everything that was created by man has its own prototype. This is especially true for technology. Cars, sea and river vessels and, of course, aircraft are developing modernization until the machine exhausts the potential laid down by the designers. ATR 42 became the progenitor of the 72nd model. This is not a prototype and not a mockup. This is a complete aircraftregional air routes. The main elements and features are the same as the descendant.

2 motors is the best

This is an even smaller twin-engine aircraft. Turboprop engines are installed in various modifications. It all depends on the preferences of the customer. It is small and can accommodate only 42 passengers. Strictly speaking, the capacity is reflected in the name of the model. However, this only applies to the base model. The aircraft is built in such a way that the number of seats in the cabin can be both increased and decreased. Thus, it is universal.

Target Audience

ATR 42 is bought not only by private airlines, but also by fairly we althy individuals. This is a small and light machine that does not cost sky-high money. Regional large entrepreneurs are quite capable of not only purchasing this aircraft, but also maintaining it.

Concern

Every thing has a creator. An airplane is real estate that requires a design office and good manufacturing facilities to build and design. Small young companies are not able to independently establish the creation and production of aircraft, they simply do not have enough money. Mergers of several companies do an excellent job of this, renting production facilities from large giants.

The ATR Group is Franco-Italian. It is formed by 2 companies, the French Aérospatiale and the Italian Alenia Aeronautica. These two small companies are engaged in the development of aircraft engines and fuselages. Themselvesthe aircraft are manufactured at the factories of the Boeing corporation, which allows us to conclude that the concern's products are of high quality.