ATR 72
A turboprop regional airliner: an example of why propellers still make sense on short routes.
Overview
The ATR 72 is a turboprop airliner built for short regional routes. Propeller propulsion is more efficient than jets at low altitude and short range; on a one-hour flight, a jet's speed advantage is usually consumed in the climb.
A high-wing layout brings the fuselage closer to the ground and reduces the need for stairs. At small airports without jet bridges or ground equipment, that is an operational advantage as much as a technical one.
Turboprops meet resistance from passengers over cabin noise. That perception does not change the type's economic logic, but airlines factor it into fleet decisions.
Details
- Brand
- ATR
- Category
- Regional Airliner
- Body
- Turboprop
- Propulsion
- turboprop
- Produced
- 1989–