ATR launched ATR Corporate at EBACE. According to sales director Milco Rappuoli the company is still working on a name for the new aircraft. The move came about because several airlines are already using the regional turboprop as a convertible from VIP to shuttle or medevac. Last year the OEM sold a VIP variant to a customer in Azerbaijan.
According to the company, the turboprop has terrain advantages over jets. “We can reach 25% more airports compared to a corporate jet,” Rappuoli said. The EADS and Alenia joint venture has already proved popular with the Thai air force, which is using it as a head-of-state aircraft. The VIP version costs $17 million. “It makes economic sense,” said Rappuoli. “Because of the airframe it can be converted back to a passenger or cargo aircraft for relatively little cost to meet the particular needs of the customer, so the asset value remains high.”
