ATR, the world’s leading turboprop manufacturer, announced that the ATR 72-500 aircraft has just received its certification from Transport Canada, the Canadian airworthiness authority. This will enable Canadian airlines to operate ATR 72-500s either in passenger or cargo configuration.
“Obtaining this certification will allow us to expand the operational scope of our family of aircraft”, stated Alessandro Amendola, Senior Vice President Engineering at ATR. “Once again, ATRs have proven that they are the perfect match for challenging markets, such as Canada, where their ability to fly in extreme cold, icy weather conditions, take off and land on unpaved and short runways, and their unrivalled performance are invaluable.”
ATR is strongly committed to addressing the various needs of all of its operators worldwide. As of today, about 40 ATR aircraft are operated in Canada, providing passenger and freighter services to remote and isolated communities. The ATR 72-500 will bring further opportunities for passengers as well as cargo air services.
The Canadian operator First Air has already been operating the 50-seater version of the same series – the ATR 42-500 – for the past years, in the North of Canada.
About the ATR 72-500:
Passenger capacity: 68-78 seats
Engines: PW 127M
Take-off power: 2,475 SHP per engine
Maximum take-off weight: 23,000 kg
Maximum payload: 7,000 kg
Maximum range at full passenger capacity: 824 nautical miles
