ATR Launches Life-extension Bid
Franco-Italian turboprop builder Avions de Transport Régional (ATR) has launched a so-called aging structures program for its ATR 42 and ATR 72 family to e

Franco-Italian turboprop builder Avions de Transport Régional (ATR) has launched a so-called aging structures program for its ATR 42 and ATR 72 family to extend the airframes’ design life from the original 70,000 cycles to 105,000 cycles. The upgrade, scheduled to take effect early next year, would equate to an “economic life” of more than 40 years per airframe, assuming an average use of 2,500 flight hours annually.