ATR wins another huge order and will develop a new freighter model:

US cargo operator FedEx Express is ordering up to 50 of a new ATR freighter model, based on the 72-600 turboprop.

ATR is to develop the 72-600F, fitted with a large cargo door in the forward fuselage as well as a cargo door in the rear, for entry into service in 2020.

Article
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... er-442989/

WOW! ATR is just unstoppable right now.....this is huge....ensures that the type gets fully integrated in the USA with more than one operator (Silver).....should be interesting to to who else buy some seeing that their now is economy of scale for pilot Type training ...

FedEx is so large they were able to specify a just right configuration. Payload should be close to 8t.

Wouldn't that require a strengthened landing gear

keesje wrote:

FedEx is so large they were able to specify a just right configuration. Payload should be close to 8t.

TropicalSky wrote:

WOW! ATR is just unstoppable right now.....this is huge....ensures that the type gets fully integrated in the USA with more than one operator (Silver).....should be interesting to to who else buy some seeing that their now is economy of scale for pilot Type training ...

FedEx is already a ATR operator, they have around 40 of them in their US feeder fleet (about equally split between the 42 and 72) which I assume these new ATRs will largely be replacing.

"These aircraft will be the first new ATRs to be directly delivered from the factory in a freighter configuration," says the manufacturer.

Where will the factory be ? Another assembly possibility for Mobile, Alabama ?

Congratulations to ATR and FedEx. Hope to see some here in Indianapolis.

Yes I know FedEx currently runs Atr,but they aren't using this new Type.....it's not the same as the 42&72-500.....FAA is just now setting up a Pilot training program for this type(42&72-600).....Silver will be the guinea pigs

Polot wrote:

TropicalSky wrote:

WOW! ATR is just unstoppable right now.....this is huge....ensures that the type gets fully integrated in the USA with more than one operator (Silver).....should be interesting to to who else buy some seeing that their now is economy of scale for pilot Type training ...

FedEx is already a ATR operator, they have around 40 of them in their US feeder fleet (about equally split between the 42 and 72) which I assume these new ATRs will largely be replacing.

zeke wrote:

"These aircraft will be the first new ATRs to be directly delivered from the factory in a freighter configuration," says the manufacturer.

Where will the factory be ? Another assembly possibility for Mobile, Alabama ?

I'm sure it will be TLS just like all the other ATRs.

TropicalSky wrote:

ensures that the type gets fully integrated in the USA with more than one operator (Silver)

Has it been confirmed these will be used for the domestic (USA) market? FedEx are a global operation so they might use them elsewhere.

TropicalSky wrote:

Wouldn't that require a strengthened landing gear

keesje wrote:

FedEx is so large they were able to specify a just right configuration. Payload should be close to 8t.

No, the ATR72-600 has a MTOW of 23 t. and for cargo config we can see around 12-12,5 DOW, so I can see 8 tonns payload for a 1-2 hours flight.

Polot wrote:

I'm sure it will be TLS just like all the other ATRs.

It is the only ATR factory in the world, so for sure it will be manufactured there and ferry to USA or elsewhere.

TropicalSky wrote:

Yes I know FedEx currently runs Atr,but they aren't using this new Type.....it's not the same as the 42&72-500.....FAA is just now setting up a Pilot training program for this type(42&72-600).....Silver will be the guinea pigs

The ATR is a well known company and widely use all over the world, so it won't be a difficult process, actually the diffrences course between the ATR-500 and the ATR-600 is a couple of days, I think it's 4-5 including the simulators.
Few airlines in the USA already operate ATR and I won't be surprise if some of them order the -600 to replace old frames, not many other options.

Polot wrote:

FedEx is already a ATR operator, they have around 40 of them in their US feeder fleet (about equally split between the 42 and 72) which I assume these new ATRs will largely be replacing.

I don't think FedEx will order any 42's, or convert any of them, the economics are much better on the 72's, unless they have some short runway or high elevation field where they want to operate, then the 42's could have the edge.

Per internal ATR note, deliveries are 2020-2024 for firm orders. Options obviously can stretch this out longer.

This provides good ongoing long term stability for ATR family.

if this becomes a trend it will affect resale values of passenger planes.
Freight Companies don't want the cast-offs of the passenger airlines anymore if the new plane is affordable and an ATR72 isn't an expensive plane as planes go.
The only outlet for these older planes might become third world companies.

Continental767 wrote:

Congratulations to ATR and FedEx. Hope to see some here in Indianapolis.

FedEx already operates ATR's into IND:

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/MTN8327
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/MTN7558
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/MTN7349

leghorn wrote:

if this becomes a trend it will affect resale values of passenger planes.
Freight Companies don't want the cast-offs of the passenger airlines anymore if the new plane is affordable and an ATR72 isn't an expensive plane as planes go.
The only outlet for these older planes might become third world companies.

Even some third world companies are buying them new.

Awesome job for FedEx and ATR!!!!

tjwgrr wrote:

Continental767 wrote:

Congratulations to ATR and FedEx. Hope to see some here in Indianapolis.

FedEx already operates ATR's into IND:

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/MTN8327
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/MTN7558
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/MTN7349

Your reply is kind of like saying the BNSF already operate in Chicago. I take his meaning as he hopes to specifically see these new tails (tail #s) at IND.

Moe

The ATR program continues to receive a healthy amount of orders, and I believe it's the worlds best selling turboprop program. Congratulations to Airbus and Leonardo (ATR is a 50/50 joint venture).

The fuselage is manufactured at Leonardo's factories in Naples, with wings and final assembly done in Toulouse. PW engines manufactured in Canada.

Congratulations FedEx and ATR!

Are these going to Empire?

32andBelow wrote:

Are these going to Empire?

Current operators of 45 (?) ATRs for FDX are Empire, Mountain and ASL - there is a good chance that most or all of these airlines will get the new aircraft.