EADS announced that Turboprop aircraft manufacturer ATR has celebrated the delivery of the first two ATR 72-600s. Royal Air Maroc will be the first operator of the new ATR “-600” series.
The 70-seater aircraft will allow the Moroccan national airline to reinforce its domestic and its nearest international network. In 2009 the airline ordered four ATR 72-600s and two ATR 42-600s, for a total of over US$ 125 million. These ATR 72-600s of which the first aircraft was on exhibit at the 2011 Paris Air Show, are the first ones to be equipped with the new “Armonia” cabin, specially designed for ATR by the Italian company Giugiaro Design. It includes new seats that are both lighter and more comfortable, providing passengers with more room, as well as more spacious overhead compartments.
These are also the first ATR aircraft to be equipped with the new avionics suite developed by Thales. The avionics feature a new glass cockpit with 5 screens and new communication, navigation and monitoring systems. It is also equipped with a new flight management system (FMS), automatic pilot, alert management and a new computer including new aircraft maintenance functions, among other developments.
About the ATR 72-600:
- Passenger capacity: 68 to 74 seats
- Engines: PW 127M
- Maximum takeoff power: 2,750 horsepower per engine
- Maximum takeoff weight: 23,000 kg
- Maximum load: 7,500 kg
- Maximum IFR range with all seats occupied: 899 nautical miles (1,665 km)
Source: EADS
Photos: (c) ATR/EADS