With very little competition for its turboprop products, ATR might have been tempted to rest on its laurels.
However, operators will always seek cost savings, creating a moving target for OEMs to keep their products in demand.
ATR and the engine manufacturer for its airframes, Pratt & Whitney Canada, have sought to do so in part by delivering a series of maintenance efficiencies and cost savings.
The latest is collaboration between ATR and MRO software developer Swiss-AS to integrate ATR maintenance data into the AMOS software provided by Swiss-AS to ATR operators.
Currently, the integration of technical publications, provided by the OEM into the software solution, is under the responsibility of the operator and often requires the usage of standalone systems and various middleware to manage data integrity and revisions, Swiss-AS noted.
Swiss-AS described the deal to change this as the first such partnership between an OEM and an MRO software company.
“This partnership will integrate our customers' requirements in terms of maintenance planning and management with an end-to-end approach to evolve our service and support offering,” commented Stefano Marazzani, senior vice president of customer support and services at ATR.
That evolution includes ATR’s certification in 2019 to extend the intervals between A checks from 500-750 hr. for all of its aircraft series.
In 2021, ATR continued to push the operating economics of its aircraft by extending the C check maintenance interval for all its aircraft from 5,000-8,000 flight hr.
Last year, meanwhile, Pratt & Whitney Canada certified the PW127XT-M, which is now standard on all new ATR42 and 72 aircraft.
The update of the PW127M provides only a small, 3% fuel burn advantage over its predecessor, but also offers 40% longer time on wing and 20% lower maintenance costs.
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