Since its inaugural flight in 1984, the ATR-42 has etched an enduring legacy in the world of regional aviation. As it celebrates 39 years of operation, let’s dive into five interesting parts of the ATR 42’s remarkable journey and its impact on the aviation landscape.
During the 1960s and 1970s, European aircraft manufacturers underwent significant restructuring, moving towards multinational collaborations that produced the likes of the Airbus A300.
French company Aérospatiale and Italian conglomerate Aeritalia joined forces to develop a regional airliner. In 1981, they signed a cooperation agreement and merged their concept designs to create the ATR-42. The aircraft’s first flight took place in August 1984, and by September 1985, it received certification from French and Italian aviation authorities.
Avation PLC (LON:AVAP) is a commercial passenger aircraft leasing company owning a fleet of aircraft which it leases to airlines across the world. Avation’s future focus are new technology low CO2 emission aircraft.
