ATR has started ground-testing the new -600 variant of its regional turboprop line, with power-on of its cockpit avionics.
The first example, an ATR 72-600, achieved power-on yesterday as the airframer began examining the functioning of its electrical systems. French manufacturer Thales is supplying the avionics suite for the type.
"We are complying with the development calendar for the -600 series ATRs," says the manufacturer's senior vice-president of operations Luigi Lombardi.
He says the electrical switch-on has been achieved after "very strong work" from the development team. Thales' avionics will comprise a flight-management system, satellite-based landing and navigation capabilities - to meet required navigation performance standards - plus a new autopilot.
It will be able to perform Category IIIa approaches and information will be provided to the crew through five liquid-crystal displays. The avionics will feature full-duplex switched Ethernet (AFDX) communications.
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ATR is intending to conduct the first flight of the 72-600 aircraft in summer 2009, with service entry anticipated in 2011. The airframer has yet to identify a launch customer for the variant.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
