Plane Crash: Things to know about the ATR aircraft

ATR is a Franco-Italian aircraft manufacturer headquartered in Blagnac, France, a suburb of Toulouse. It was founded in 1981 as a joint venture between Aérospatiale of France and Aeritalia of Italy.

On its website, ATR says that as the world’s number one regional aircraft manufacturer, and the most eco-responsible commercial aircraft, it connects people and places in a sustainable and modern way, no matter how remote they are.

“From the world’s largest cities to our planet’s most remote regions, our purpose is to deliver air travel to people, communities, and businesses in an innovative, sustainable, and modern way,” says its website.

“Responsible flying is in our DNA, which is why we deliver the most advanced and efficient solutions to our customers, allowing travelers to pursue their passions and get into the very heart of life.”

The ATR 42-500, an upgraded version of the ATR 42-400, is a powerful aircraft with multiple updates to improve not only the experience for the passengers, but also for the pilots.

It is good for passengers who struggle with loud noises, thanks to the improved noise insulation.
An aviation expert with 40 years of experience, Mr Phillemon Kisamo, who is also a captain, described the ATR42-500 as a fuel efficient airplane.

He said it also has a higher speed than comparable aircraft and has a feature of simplicity in maintenance due to the system installed in it.
“If you can get there faster while burning less fuel, that means the kind of aircraft (ATR42-500) is economical,” said Mr Kisamo.

He added: “It also offers better cabin comfort.”
However, he said, unless they are modified, they cannot operate on a rough airfield with unpaved runways.
“However, if you weigh the advantages and disadvantages, ATR aircraft are better for our environment,” said Mr Kisamo.

Coastal Travels Chief Executive Officer Maynard Mkumbwa, captain, said ATR42-500 are modern aircraft with good situational awareness.
“As a result, they have an excellent safety record in the world,” said Mr Mkumbwa.

He went on by saying, “That accident caught us by surprise.”
Information available online shows that in December 1994, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered an immediate ban on US airline flights of ATR commuter aircraft during icy weather or when it was forecast.

The order came six weeks after one of the European-made planes crashed as it approached Chicago.

The FAA insisted that ATRs were still safe in good weather. But officials said that new information from the manufacturer about the possible hazards of icy conditions showed that control could be lost in certain situations.
ATR, however, later issued a statement arguing that its tests “provide no basis for the action taken by the FAA.”
In a welcome move, ATR made its comeback to the United States in 2018.

The comeback saw the introduction of the ATR-600 series in the US, to be operated by Silver Airways. This followed a deal between ATR and Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) for the purchase of 15 ATR-600s, of which 12 will be ATR-42-600s and three will be ATR-72-600s.

According to data from ch-aviation.com, until November last year, there were 43 active US-registered aircraft that belonged to either the ATR 42 or 72 families. 
One  could find these at six different operators, with the largest in terms of passenger-carrying ATR 42s and 72s being Silver Airways.

The team of seven investigators, which includes technical advisers from Franco-Italian plane maker ATR, the manufacturer of the crashed plane, and the French Accident Investigation Authority, arrived in the country on Tuesday.

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According to Mr Gabriel Migire, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Works and Transport.
The Citizen understands that the team of investigators, which includes three from the French Accident Investigation Authority and the other four from ATR, landed at the accident scene yesterday.

“They are here to investigate the cause of the accident. After the work is done, they will file a report that will also state the way forward to prevent such accidents from occurring again,” said the credible source under condition of anonymity