By Jordan Green
Air Saint-Pierre Receives New ATR-42-600
On Dec. 11, European aircraft manufacturer ATR announced that Air Saint-Pierre has taken delivery of a new ATR-42-600 turboprop aircraft. Air Saint-Pierre is a French carrier based in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, a group of French islands located near Newfoundland and Labrador.
Taking delivery of a new aircraft is certainly significant for Air Saint-Pierre. Notably, the carrier maintains a fleet of only two aircraft. The newly delivered ATR-42-600 will replace an ATR-42-500 the carrier had operated since 2009. In addition to the ATR 42, Air Saint-Pierre also operates a Cessna F406.
The ATR-42 first flew in 1984 and began revenue service in 1985. Since that time, several new variants have been introduced including the ATR-42-600 which was announced in 2007. The 600 variant’s first flight came in 2010 and the aircraft entered service in 2012. The 600 variant brought several improvements over the ATR-42-500 including better engines and a glass cockpit. The ATR-42-600 has a range of just over 700 nautical miles.
Representatives from both Air Saint-Pierre and ATR spoke positively of the delivery.
Air Saint-Pierre CEO Benoît Olano, said, “We are looking forward to starting operations with our new ATR aircraft. We have been flying ATR since 1994, starting with an ATR 42 320, and the turboprop’s unique capabilities and continuous improvement have made it the ideal aircraft for our operations over the years. We will continue to provide to the people of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon the connectivity they need, along with greater comfort, whilst limiting our impact on the environment.”
ATR’s CEO Stefan Bortoli added that he sees “nothing more satisfying than seeing a loyal customer upgrade its fleet. Delivering regional connectivity in the challenging operational conditions of Saint Pierre and Miquelon and its neighboring islands takes a special aircraft and the ATR 42-600 is the perfect fit. The airline’s operations are vital for the archipelago’s communities and we are truly glad to see our aircraft once again accomplish what they have been designed for: to connect people and places responsibly, no matter how remote.”
Air Saint-Pierre offers service to several destinations within the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon and to neighboring islands and operates flights to Canada as well.
Jordan focuses his writing on innovations in commercial aviation, aviation history, and other interesting topics he feels are worthy of discussion in the community.
