ATR, a consortium of Alenia and EADS, has won a $98m order from Tanzania’s Precision Air Services for four 50-seat ATR 42-600s and one 68-seat ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft.
The new order will bring Precision Air’s current fleet of ATR aircraft to 14 making it the largest ATR aircraft operator in Africa.
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The additional 600 series aircraft will be used by the airline to further expand its regional network by adding new routes and increasing frequencies within its domestic market.
Precision Air Services chairman Michael Shirima said: "We have been operating ATR aircraft for years and we are totally convinced of their suitability for our regional routes.
"The ATRs are perfectly adapted to the hot climate in Africa, and feature optimal performance in smaller airfields and unpaved runways. Also, they provide us the lowest operating costs, thus strongly contributing to the development of regional aviation in our country."
The low fuel-burn and high dispatch-reliable aircraft is capable of taking off or landing with optimal performance, even in smaller airfields and unpaved runways.
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By GlobalDataThe ATR 42-600 will be equipped with a Pratt & Whitney 127M engine offering a maximum take-off power of 2,160hp per engine and a maximum weight at take-off of 18,600kg.
It can carry a maximum load of 5,500kg and offer a range of 801nm (1,483km) with full passenger load.
The ATR 72-600 will be powered by a Pratt & Whitney 127M engine offering a maximum take-off power of 2,750hp per engine and a maximum weight at take-off of 23,000kg. It has a load capacity of 7,500kg and a range of 899nm (1,665km) with full passenger load.
The ATR 600 series aircraft feature advanced an avionics suite that provides the pilot with improved operations and situational awareness as well as a centralised maintenance system for better performance.
Additional features include Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) to enhance ATC surveillance currently provided by radars as well as share aircraft data with other ADS-B-capable aircraft and ATC centres.
Currently, Precision Air operates five 68-seat ATR 72-500, two 48-seat ATR 42-500 and two 48-seat ATR 42-320 aircraft.
Delivery under the latest order for the ATR 42-600s is scheduled to begin in late 2012, while the ATR 72-600 will be handed over in 2014.
