European turboprop aircraft manufacturer ATR used the start of a two-week North American ATR-72-500 sales blitz to unveil the –600 series, the newest version of the firm’s family of aircraft that will be available in the second half of 2010.
At the same time ATR Chief Executive Stephane Mayer released his firm’s 10-Year (2007-2016) Turboprop Delivery Forecast, calling for total worldwide sales of 1,390 new turboprops worth $27 billion. That breaks down into 220 15-59 seaters and 1,170 60-90 seat aircraft, during the decade, for a 15/85 percent market split. The ATR sales forecast projects 2,500 aircraft deliveries over the next 20 years.
ATR hopes to provide the majority of the 140 aircraft delivered each year during the decade. “The next 10-year forecast for the turboprop market…provides a solid basis for ATR to continue its investment in improvement and developing our very successful products,” stated Mayer.
Head of Sales John Moore believes the potential is there for “a couple hundred” orders for –500 and –600 aircraft in North America in the near-term, and he believes that ATR can hold onto its current 64-67 percent market share for 50-70 seat turboprops as a result of the firm’s continuous product improvement strategy.
Mayer is bullish about the prospects for his aircraft. Over 900 orders have been placed for ATRs since the 1980s, 234 of which are new ATR orders since January 2005 when, according to Mayer, the company began enjoying “a very strong revival” for ATRs. The order book includes 77 units (16 ATR 42-500s and 61 ATR 72-500s) in 2007 so far, including 13 aircraft for Jet Airways, six for Cebu Pacific, 10 for Malaysia Airlines and six for ISLAS, all ATR-72-500s. The 2007 orders also include six ATR 42-500s and 11 ATR 72-500s for un-named customers. 2007 was the second highest year in terms of orders, says Mayer.
A total of 737 ATR aircraft have been delivered (395 ATR 42s and 342 ATR 72s), with 44 ATRs to be delivered in 2007. Production has ramped up to allow for 64 deliveries next year and 80 in 2009 and beyond. In comparison, the firm delivered only two dozen ATRs in 2006.
The new 50-seat ATR-42-600 and 70-seat ATR 72-600 will feature the latest technological enhancements while building on the attributes of the current aircraft, namely high efficiency, proven dispatch reliability and low fuel burn and operating cost, said ATR. The –600 series aircraft will incorporate a new avionics suite made by Thales Avionics. ATR concluded negotiations on Oct. 1 with Thales and another un-named “world leader in the avionics field” that were short-listed for the project.
The glass cockpit, with five 6-in. by 8-in. color displays will replace the current Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS). The new avionics will provide CAT IIIA instrument landing capabilities.
Both the ATR-42-600 and ATR-72-600 will be powered by the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft PW127M, which will be certified before the end of this year with deliveries starting in 2008, said Moore. The “M” model PW127 will offer five percent more power than the PW127F, providing improved performance for hot and high conditions. The ATR 72-600 will see its maximum take off weight (MTOW) increase by 1,100 lbs. (300 kg), better able to cope with increasing demand of passenger weights and baggage.
Moore said negotiations are underway with a potential undisclosed –600 launch customer with others to be approached very soon. Mayer would not say what the newest model turboprops will sell for, except to say the cost will exceed the –500 models.
The –600 series will include all the existing and future cabin improvements developed by ATR to provide a high level of comfort and low interior noise. As with the –500 series, the next generation ATR will have the latest in Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting inside the cabin. Similar to the current ATR 42 and ATR 72 models, the –600 series package will include an electronic flight bag, multi-purpose computer, ACARS and an in-flight entertainment system.
The PW127M is retrofitable on the –500 series aircraft with minor aircraft modifications, but the glass cockpit is not. From the outside, the –500 and –600 series aircraft will appear to be identical, but the 50- and 70-passenger cabin interiors and cockpits are another story.

ATR Begins North American Demo Tour
ATR is showing its new generation 70-seat ATR 72-500 aircraft to 11 North American airlines and regional carriers during a two-week demonstration tour that runs Oct. 1-14.
The sales blitz, entitled Unveiling the Talent is providing North American carriers the opportunity to see first-hand the latest developments from ATR in communications, navigation tools and passenger comfort available on ATR regional turboprop aircraft. The ATR aircraft on display, an ATR 72-500, to be delivered to India’s Kingfisher Airlines after the tour, is equipped with the new “Elegance” cabin, In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) system and Light Emitting Diode (LED) interior lighting.
At a press conference held in Washington, DC, to kick off the cross-country event, Stephane Mayer, ATR’s chief executive, declared that “the North American market represents a large potential for the latest generation ATRs given their superior economics on the regional routes, their environmental friendliness and the high level of comfort offered to the passengers.”
John Moore, ATR’s head of sales, who is leading the tour, added: “This tour will emphasize the –500 series ATRs as the optimal solution for replacement of smaller regional jets that are uneconomic on shorter regional routes as well as the renewal of aging turboprop fleets.”
There are 134 air carriers in 79 countries operating ATR aircraft, including Atlantic Southeast and American Eagle in the United States, but they are operating early model ATRs. While ATR has sold the majority of the 50-70 seat turboprops in the worldwide market, and about 90 percent in India (where Kingfisher operates ten ATRs and has 20 more on order), the firm has failed to score any recent sales in North America. In an understatement, Mayer said “there is a lot of room for improvement” in the US/Canada market.
The 12-city barnstorming tour includes Halifax, Nova Scotia, St. Louis, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. George, UT, Dallas and Phoenix. The 11 air carriers coaxed into inspecting the ATR 72-500 include Air Canada Jazz, Comair, US Airways and SkyWest in addition to current ATR operators American Eagle and Atlantic Southeast. About 100 early-generation ATRs remain in service in North America, including a dozen with Atlantic Southeast and 40 with American Eagle.
Moore sees “a good replacement market for turboprops in the United States. There is definitely interest and demand for our latest products. We just need to familiarize North American carriers with the –500 product line, which are dramatically different aircraft.”
Added Moore: “In recent years, there hasn’t been a lot of sales activity in North America despite our success in the rest of the world. So, we really feel the time is right to re-introduce our aircraft in North America, showing the airlines that we offer a very good product at a low cost per seat mile.”
Moore has no specific sales forecast for the North American market. “I don’t expect to sign any orders as part of the demonstration tour, but I think we have very good potential in this market, a couple hundred orders in North America.”