Story ID: 005AswegoAINJuly12
ATR 42-600 Gains EASA Certification
By: Gregory Polek
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Word Count: 127
The 46-seat ATR 42-600 regional turboprop received EASA certification late last month, ending a 125-hour flight-test program that began on April 5, 2010, using a single prototype. The smaller of a pair of updated turboprop models introduced by ATR over the past 13 months, the ATR 42-600 drew on testing results from earlier trials on its more popular, 68-seat sibling–the ATR 72-600, which gained its certification in May 2011. As in the case of the ATR 72-600, all of the tests on the ATR 42-600 validated the proper installation and operation of new systems and equipment, most notably a new Thales avionics suite and more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127M engines. ATR plans to deliver the first production airplane this summer to a still unidentified customer.