ATR 42

The ATR 42 is a regional airliner produced by Franco-Italian manufacturer ATR, with final assembly in Toulouse, France.

On 4 November 1981, the aircraft was launched with ATR, as a joint venture between French Aérospatiale (now part of Airbus) and Aeritalia (now Leonardo S.p.A.).

The ATR 42-300 performed its maiden flight on 16 August 1984 and type certification was granted during September 1985.

Launch customer Air Littoral operated its first revenue-earning flight in December of that year.

The high-wing airliner is powered by two turboprop engines, Pratt & Whitney Canada PW120s.

The number "42" in its name is derived from the aircraft's original standard seating capacity of 42 passengers.

Later variants are upgraded with new avionics, a glass cockpit, and newer engine versions.

The ATR 42 is the basis for the stretched ATR 72, introduced in October 1989.

Development

During the 1960s and 1970s, European aircraft manufacturers had, for the most part, undergone considerable corporate restructuring, including mergers and consolidations, as well as moving towards collaborative multinational programmes, such as the newly launched Airbus A300. In line with this trend towards intra-European co-operation, French aerospace manufacturer Aérospatiale and Italian aviation conglomerate Aeritalia commenced discussions on the topic of working together to develop an all-new regional airliner. Prior to this, both companies had been independently conducting studies for their own aircraft concepts, the AS 35 design in the case of Aerospatiale and the AIT 230 for Aeritalia, to conform with demand within this sector of the market as early as 1978.

This agreement served not only as the basis and origins of the ATR company, but also as the effective launch point of what would become the fledgling firm's first aircraft, which was designated as the ATR 42. By 1983, ATR's customer services division has been set up, readying infrastructure worldwide to provide support for ATR's upcoming aircraft to any customer regardless of location.

On 16 August 1984, the first ATR 42 conducted its maiden flight from Toulouse Airport, France. During January 1986, already confident of the ATR 42's success and of the demand for an enlarged version of the aircraft, ATR announced that the launch of a programme to develop such an aircraft, which was designated as the ATR 72 to reflect its increased passenger capacity. The first aircraft was delivered to Tanzanian airline Precision Air in November 2012.

As a consequence of strong demand for the -600 series, ATR decided to invest in the establishment of a second, more modern final-assembly line and acquisition of more hangar space at their Toulouse site, along with a new large completion and delivery area; overall, the manufacturing operation expanded to four times the footprint that it had in 2005. It could introduce a steep approach capability and operating costs that compare to 30-seaters.

Existing control surfaces would be re-engineered with takeoff flaps extended to 25°, and both spoilers deploying at landing and not only for inflight turns, adding an autobrake system, while the rudder is modified to increase its maximum deflection and the vertical stabilizer's size is increased, to counter an engine failure, lowering the minimum control speed.

ATR estimates a market for STOL 20–42 seaters of 800 over 30 years, to serve islands and deliver cargo to short runways.

The ATR 42-600S empty weight will be reduced with lighter seats and galley fittings. The variant was officially announced at the June 2019 Paris Air Show. Irish lessor Elix Aviation Capital will be the launch customer, taking 10 aircraft from 2022 to 2024; commitments from Air Tahiti and another undisclosed customer bring the total order book to 17.

On 9 October 2019, ATR launched the ATR 42-600S at the European Regions Airline Association General Assembly, with 20 commitments including from Elix Aviation Capital (10 aircraft) and Air Tahiti (two aircraft).

Capable of operating from runways with up to 42 passengers, certification is expected for the second half of 2022 before first delivery.

The ATR 42-600S can access close to 500 airports with an runway, expanding its addressable market by 25%. 800 m runway operation is limited to long flights with 70% used seats.

The variant made a 2h 15min maiden flight on 11 May 2022, while the larger rudder will be fitted at the end of 2022 before the certification phase start in 2023.

In November 2024 ATR terminated the development of the 42-600S STOL version, opting instead to focus on improving the efficiency of the entire ATR 42 and ATR 72 families.

Design

thumb|The ATR 42 has a straight wing with an [[wing aspect ratio|aspect ratio, and retractable landing gear in fairings under the fuselage, with wheel sides visible in flight.]]

The ATR 42 is a straight high-wing airliner with twin turboprops and a T-tail, certified in the transport category, and powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW120s.

It has deicing boots to fly in icing conditions and a retractable landing gear in fairings under the fuselage, with wheel sides visible in flight.

It has no Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), but can still be autonomous in ground operations, as it has a propeller brake on the starboard engine, allowing the engine to remain running to provide power on the ground.

It has a pressurized cabin with a circular cross-section, with a inside width for four-abreast seating, allowing 48 seats at a seat pitch.

It has a wing area and a wing span, for a wing aspect ratio.

It has a MTOW, for a wing loading.

It can reach a cruise speed of true air speed, with a fuel flow of 811 kg/h (1,788 lb/h): a fuel economy of kg/km ( lb/nmi) or per seat with 48 seats and a jet fuel density of 0.8.

Operational history

On 21 August 1990, US airline American Eagle placed a large order for ATRs, composed of 41 ATR 42s and 59 ATR 72s, further consolidating ATR's position in North America. According to ATR's CEO Filippo Bagnato, sales had continued to grow during the Great Recession despite the downturn experienced by most aviation companies as "fuel consumption that can be half that of the alternatives and [with] lower maintenance costs". Bagnato noted the strength of Africa as a market for the type, as well as the firm's aircraft being capable of serving destinations that would otherwise be inaccessible with other aircraft due to the austere conditions of many airstrips and runways in the region, as well as the ability to operate autonomously without any reliance upon ground support equipment. During late 2014, ATR set up a new office in Beijing, and hired several former Airbus sales personnel with the aim of launching the type on the Chinese market. ATR believed that many of the already-flown routes did not suit larger 150-seat aircraft; however, of the roughly 2,600 commercial aircraft flying in China at that time, only 68 had a capacity less than 90 seats and of these, fewer than 20 aircraft were powered by turboprop engines.

In response to airlines often wanting to phase out their early production ATR models to replace them with the latest generation ATR series, as well as to answer demand from cargo operators for the type, ATR has operated two separate dedicated freighter conversion programmes, known as the Bulk Freighter (tube version) and the ULD Freighter. Both conversions involve complete stripping of furnishings along with the addition of floor strengthening, new window plugs and 9 g restraining nets, six additional longitudinal tracks for added flexibility, and an E-Class cabin; the ULD model can accommodate standard ULD-packaged cargo, such as LD3 containers or pallets, which were loaded via a large cargo door located on the port forward side. Undertaken by a range of companies, such as Alenia subsidiary Aeronavali, Texas-based M7 Aerospace; French firms Indraéro Siren and Aeroconseil, Canadian Infinion Certification Engineering, and Spanish company Arrodisa, by October 2012, in excess of one-fifth of all first-generation ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft had already been converted to freighters.

Silver Airways started to operate the ATR 42-600 on 22 April 2019, making it the first airline to fly the -600 variant in the USA. The carrier has 16 firm orders for ATR turboprops with options to purchase 30 additional aircraft from ATR through lessor Nordic Aviation Capital.

In September 2024, Nepalese airline Buddha Air became the first to retire their ATR 42-320 by completing its economic life cycle of 70000 cycles.

Variants

thumb|Early -200/-300/-320 have four-blade propellers, such as this [[Aeromar ATR-42.]]

thumb|-500 cabin

thumb|-500 Cockpit

thumb|Later -400/-500/-600 have propellers with six blades.

ATR 42-200

The -200 was the original ATR 42 prototype, and only a few were built for testing purposes. It was powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW120 engines rated at .

ATR 42-300

The -300 was the standard production version. This model was manufactured until 1996. It was powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW120 engines rated at .

ATR 42-320

The -320 was an improved version of the -300 powered by PW121 engines (2100 shp). It was designed to have better performance, especially in hot and high conditions.

ATR 42-600

During October 2007, the launch of the ATR 42-600 series was announced. Akin to the ATR 72-500, the -600 series featured the PW127M as its standard engine (providing 5% additional thrust, thus improving performance on short runways, in hot weather, and at high altitude); the "boost function" activates the additional power as needed. It also features a glass cockpit flight deck, complete with five wide LCD screens, that replaced the previous electronic flight instrument system; additionally, a multipurpose computer enhances flight safety and operational capabilities. Avionics supplied by Thales provides CAT III and required navigation performance capabilities. It also includes lighter, more comfortable seats and larger overhead baggage bins. According to the third issue of its EASA's Type Certificate, ATR 42-600 is ATR's marketing designation for the -500 series when fitted with the new avionics suite) or "glass Cockpit". The ATR 42-600 designation is not recognised by EASA as a certified aircraft model or variant, and is not used on ATR certified/approved documentation; instead, only "Mod 5948", "ATR 42-500 with Mod 5948", "ATR 42-500 fitted with NAS", or "ATR 42-500 600 version" is used.

ATR 42-600S

The ATR 42-600S was the STOL (short takeoff and landing) variant of the -600. The aircraft was planned to be capable of operating from runways as short as with up to 34 passengers, and fully seated (48 passengers) on short routes. ATR launched the ATR 42-600S at the ERA General Assembly, with 20 commitments including from Elix Aviation Capital (10 aircraft) and Air Tahiti (two aircraft). Certification was expected for the second half of 2022 before first delivery.

In November 2024 ATR decided to halt development of the 42-600S, due to "a reduced addressable market compared to the initial forecast".

ATR 42-600/-600S HighLine Edition

The ATR 42-600 and ATR 42-600S HighLine had an executive cabin layout, otherwise it is the same as its original counterpart.

Other versions

thumb|[[FedEx Express ATR-42 cargo variant]]

; Cargo variant:

Bulk (tube versions) and ULD freighter (large cargo door). An STC exists to convert all ATR-42 variants to all-cargo transport aircraft. FedEx, UPS, and DHL are major operators of the type.

; ATR Surveyor:

The ATR-42 "Surveyor" is a maritime patrol version of the -400.

; Others:

VIP transport and in-flight inspection versions of the -500 also exist.

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; Corporate version:

; In-flight inspection:

; ATR Quick Change:

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Operators

Civilian operators

thumb|[[First Air ATR 42–300 in Ikpiarjuk (Arctic Bay), Nunavut Canada]]

See List of ATR 42 operators.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

|+ Airline operators with more than 5 aircraft

! Airline !! 300 !! 320 !! 500 !! 600

!600S!! Total

| style="text-align:left;" | Canadian North|| 5 || 2 || 8 || –

| – || 15

| style="text-align:left;" | Danish Air Transport|| 2 || 2 || 3 || –

| – || 7

| style="text-align:left;" | EasyFly|| – || – || 2 || 12

| – || 14

| style="text-align:left;" | Empire Airlines || 8 || 3 || – || –

| – || 11

| style="text-align:left;" | FedEx Express || 11 || 6 || – || –

| – || 17

| style="text-align:left;" | Japan Air Commuter || – || – || – || 9

| – || 9

| style="text-align:left;" | Loganair || – || – || 5 || 2

| – || 7

| style="text-align:left;" | Mountain Air Cargo || 6 || 2 || – || –

| – || 8

| style="text-align:left;" | Pakistan International Airlines|| – || – || 3 || – || – || 3

| style="text-align:left;" | SATENA || – || – || 4 || 4

| – || 8

On 1 August 2017, Silver Airways placed orders for 20 ATR 42-600 aircraft, marking the entry of the -600 into the U.S. market, with four in service as of fourth quarter 2019.

By November 2018, Loganair was to replace its Saab 340s and Saab 2000s, costly to operate and maintain, mostly the 2000, with around 20 ATR 42s over four to five years from the third quarter of 2019.

Military operators

thumb|Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 Surveyor

As of August 2022, 6 ATR 42s were in military service.

Colombian Navy: 1
Nigerian Air Force: 2 MPAs
Myanmar Air Force: 3 special mission aircraft
Senegalese Air Force: 1

Government operators

French Service des avions français instrumentés pour la recherche en environnement: An ATR 42-320 used for environmental research purposes (F-HMTO)
Indonesian Directorate General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance: An ATR 42-320, operated by Trigana Air.
Italian Corps of the Port Captaincies – Coast Guard: 3 MPs
Italian Guardia di Finanza: 5 MPs
Senegal Asecna

Former operators

Accidents and incidents

The ATR 42 has been involved in 47 aviation accidents and incidents including 34 hull losses.

Those resulted in fatalities.

On 15 October 1987, Aero Trasporti Italiani Flight 460, an (ATI) ATR 42-312, crashed on Conca di Crezzo, Italy during flight from Milan-Linate to Cologne Bonn Airport, Germany. All 37 on board died. Icing conditions existed.
On 21 August 1994, Royal Air Maroc Flight 630, an ATR 42-312, crashed into the Atlas Mountains, killing all 44 people on board. It was claimed the pilot deliberately disengaged the autopilot and crashed the aircraft.
On 30 July 1997, Air Littoral Flight 701, an ATR 42-500, overran runway 23 at Peretola Airport in Italy after a flight from Nice Côte d'Azur Airport in France. One of the crew was killed out of the 3 crew and 14 passengers. The aircraft was written off in the accident.
On 11 October 1999, an Air Botswana captain deliberately crashed an ATR 42-320 into the airline's other two ATR 42s parked on the apron at Gaborone Airport and took off, killing him, with no other casualties.
On 12 November 1999, Si Fly Flight 3275 (operating on behalf of the United Nations), an ATR 42-312, crashed into a hill near Mitrovica, Kosovo as it was making a left-hand turn on approach to Pristina International Airport Adem Jashari from Rome Ciampino Airport in Italy, killing all 24 passengers and crew on board.
On 14 September 2002, Total Linhas Aereas Flight 5561 an ATR 42-312 on a cargo flight between São Paulo-Guarulhos and Londrina crashed while en route near Paranapanema, killing the only two crew members.
On 21 February 2008, Santa Barbara Airlines Flight 518, an ATR 42-300, crashed in the Andes near Mérida, Venezuela, during a flight from Mérida to Simon Bolivar International Airport in Caracas. The aircraft was carrying 43 passengers and 3 crew. All died.

On 13 September 2010, Conviasa Flight 2350, an ATR 42-320, crashed west of Manuel Carlos Piar Guayana Airport, Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela, on a domestic scheduled passenger flight from Santiago Mariño Caribbean International Airport, Porlamar. Of 51 passengers and crew on board, 34 survived the accident while 17 died.

thumb|Trigana Air Service 267 crash site

On 16 August 2015, Trigana Air Service Flight 267, an ATR 42-300, crashed into a mountain in the Bintang highlands on approach to Oksibil from Sentani Airport, killing all 54 passengers and crew on board. It is the deadliest crash involving an ATR 42.
On 7 December 2016, PIA Flight 661 ATR 42-500 with registration AP-BHO crashed in Havelian in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing all 47 on board. Flight 661 was en route from the town of Chitral to Pakistani capital of Islamabad when it crashed into a mountain.
On 13 December 2017, West Wind Aviation Flight 280, an ATR 42-320, carrying 22 passengers and three crew members crashed near Fond-du-Lac, Saskatchewan, shortly after takeoff from Fond-du-Lac Airport; no fatalities were reported at the scene, but one of the injured victims died on 25 December. The carrier temporarily grounded its remaining ATR fleet. On 22 December, after identifying deficiencies in its Operational Control System, Transport Canada suspended the Air Operator Certificate of West Wind Aviation.
On 6 November 2022, around 8:50 local time, Precision Air Flight 494, an ATR 42-500 carrying 39 passengers and four crew members, crashed in Lake Victoria in Tanzania while approaching Bukoba Airport, resulting in 19 fatalities. It is suggested that bad weather might have been a factor into the crash. The two pilots were amongst the fatalities.
On 17 January 2026 at around 04:20 UTC, an ATR 42-500 registered PK-THT belonging to Indonesia Air Transport, leased for the Directorate General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance, went missing near South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Debris suspected to have originated from the aircraft has been located near the summit of Mount Bulu Saraung. All 10 people on board the airplane were killed.

Specifications

thumb|three side view, along [[ATR 72]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ATR 42 variants

! ATR 42-200

! ATR 42-300

! ATR 42-320

! ATR 42-400

! ATR 42-500

! ATR 42-600

! Cockpit crew

| colspan=7 | Two

! Seating

| colspan=7 | 48 at pitch

! Length

| colspan=7 |

! Wingspan

| colspan=7 |

! Height

| colspan=7 |

! Wing area

| colspan=7 |

! Aspect ratio

| colspan=7 |

! Empty weight

| colspan="2" |

| colspan=“3” |

! MTOW

| colspan="2" |

| colspan=4 |

! Max payload

| colspan="2" | ()

| ()

| colspan=“3” | ()

! Fuel capacity

| colspan=7 |

! Engines (×2)

| PW120

| PW121

| PW121A

| PW127E/M

| PW127XT-M

| PW127XT-L

! Power

! Cruise speed

| colspan="2" | 270 kn (500 km/h; )

| 261 kn (484 km/h; )

| 300 kn (556 km/h; )

| colspan="3" | 289 kn (535 km/h; )

! 48 pax range

| colspan="2" |

| colspan=“2” |

References

Sources

Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. .
Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999. .

Development

Design

Operational history

Variants

ATR 42-200

ATR 42-300

ATR 42-320

ATR 42-600

ATR 42-600S

ATR 42-600/-600S HighLine Edition

Other versions

Operators

Civilian operators

Military operators

Government operators

Former operators

Accidents and incidents

Specifications

See also

References

Sources

External links