ATR 72-600 receives EASA certification

Regional transport turboprop aircraft manufacturer ATR has announced that its ATR 72-600, the newest member of its aircraft family, has obtained certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Certification covers new equipment on the aircraft and successfully concludes ground and flight tests conducted on the ATR 72-600 prototypes.

Flight testing on the aircraft began in the summer of 2009, ATR said in a statement.

New systems and equipment installed on the aircraft include a new glass cockpit with five LCD screens, new communication, navigation, monitoring, flight management (FMS), Automatic Pilot and alert management systems, and a new MPC computer system (including aircraft maintenance and protection functions).

The ATR 72-600 is able to seat between 68 and 74 passengers.

Filippo Bagnato, CEO of ATR, said he is ''The ATR '-600', now the most advanced regional aircraft on the market, features new avionics, developed in partnership with Thales, which make flight management even simpler thanks to its state-of-the-art technology.

It also features a new cabin, designed by Giugiaro, with new, even more comfortable seats which are also lighter-weight, and completely redesigned baggage stows offering more storage space for passengers. The new ATR '-600's' entry into service will soon open up new commercial prospects for us.''