ATR, a turboprop aircraft manufacturer, is mulling over plans to build new aircraft that could land on short runways, in poor weather conditions and at night
ATR, a turboprop aircraft manufacturer, is mulling over plans to build new aircraft that could land on short runways, in poor weather conditions and at night. It considers the Philippines as a potential market for such aircraft. The European company said it would soon launch a new option for its aircraft, called 'ClearVision system', a technology that combines enhanced vision with synthetic vision to improve visibility at night and in adverse weather conditions. It intends to gain certification for the system early next year, reported Manila's BusinessWorld Online.
According to ATR general manager for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Christophe Potocki, the company might craft a new version of its ATR 42, a short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft. This 'super STOL' would be capable to land on a runway as short as 800 metres.
'This will be useful in a country like the Philippines where you have many small airports with short runways. ATR will make a decision later this year on whether to develop the 'super STOL,'' Mr Potocki said.
If it pushes through, and airlines in the Philippines would acquire the product, it may open new routes in locations around the world that have airports with shorter runways.
ATR said last year that flights to Masbate, San Jose, Mabalacat, Canayan, Zamboanga, Tagbilaran, Virac and Cotabato were opened because of ATR aircraft.
'Using ATR aircraft has also given Philippine carriers flexibility to bypass congested Manila airport and develop more point-to-point services in the country linking second and third-tier cities direct rather than have all the domestic traffic routed through Manila,' Mr Potocki said.
He noted there are many airports in the Philippines that could not accommodate a jet aircraft because of runway length and minimal passenger volume.
ATR also announced it is making a dedicated freighter, the ATR 72-600F, which will be used first by FedEx Corp. It said e-commerce is pushing the company to venture into cargo aircraft as the demand for cargo planes grows.
Cebu Pacific has just placed an order for the conversion of two of its ATR 72-500 passenger planes into freighters to cater to rapid growth among the Philippines' e-commerce businesses.
