Fog-busting ATR at final assembly
THE fuselage of the first of Aurigny’s new fog-busting ATRs has arrived on the final assembly line in Toulouse.
The aircraft should arrive in Guernsey in August, ready to go into service towards the end of the year.
It is the first of three ATRs which will be fitted with ClearVision technology. The planes are costing $60m., which is being funded using a 10-year loan deal.
The new ATR-600 in France has been covered with anti-corrosive green zinc, ahead of being painted.
Each aircraft must have a unique name and this aircraft will be called G-OATR.
Aurigny CEO Mark Darby said the work was progressing well.
‘It is really exciting to see the progress of the first aircraft and choosing a name is one of the many tasks we have had to complete,’ he said.
‘We had an internal competition where staff suggested various names which were not yet used in existing aircraft. We had a great response and will still have to decide on the second two aircraft in due course. I am thrilled that two of our staff suggested G-OATR and it signifies the commitment and relationship we have with the manufacturer ATR, and the belief we have in them as the best fit for the type of flights we perform.’
Once the plane is delivered, it will take several months of crew training before it comes into service. It is planned that the second ATR will arrive in October and the third in November. The planes will replace G-VZON and G-COBO.
