The ATR 42-600 pre-series aircraft successfully took to the sky for the first time today in Toulouse. The aircraft, powered with Pratt & Whitney 127M engines, took off at 3.00 pm (local time) and completed a 2-hour flight, thus starting a flight test campaign of approximately 75 hours. Among other checks, the aircraft underwent tests regarding performance of the engines and well-functioning of its specifically developed new avionics, which integrates the newest computer systems and software for navigational aids, flight data recording, automatic piloting and communications. Pilots also tested hydraulic and electrical systems and blades balancing.

The high degree of commonality between the ATR 72 and the ATR 42 will enable the ATR 42-600 to benefit from certain tests completed by the ATR 72-600, whose 150-hour flight campaign started in July 2009. Both ATR 42-600 and ATR 72-600 will entry into service in 2011.

Source: ATR