Aurigny confirm ATR 72-600 trio

By January 8, 2019 January 16th, 2020 General News

Aurigny and ATR have confirmed the airline will buy three ATR 72-600 turboprops, after signing a Letter of Intent at the Farnborough Airshow last July.

Following approval from the Guernsey state government, the first aircraft will be delivered in August this year. All three ATRs will be equipped with the ClearVision™ Enhanced Vision System (EVS), with Aurigny the launch customer for the technology.

ClearVision™ uses an external camera to display an augmented outside-view in real-time to a head-mounted visor, worn by the pilot with the EVS improving significantly the pilot’s vision. Guernsey’s location in the English Channel means its flight operations are often affected by fog, leading to disruptions for passengers.

A study showed that an ATR equipped with the ClearVision™ EVS could have saved 50% of the disrupted landings in Guernsey over the course of a year. ClearVision™ is an option on ATR’s latest avionics suite, Standard 3. It also offers a Synthetic Vision System (SVS) that provides the pilot’s Head-Up Display with digital images of terrain and obstacles from an extensive database. Operators can also opt for a Combined Vision System (CVS), combining both systems and offering pilots the best possible vision and situational awareness, says ATR.

Aurigny’s CEO, Mark Darby, said: “The opportunity to modernise our fleet, allowing us to offer our customers the very latest standards of comfort whilst introducing technology that will minimise disruption to their travel, makes perfect sense. Aurigny plays a key role in assuring vital connectivity between Guernsey and the UK and Europe. These new aircraft are going to make a significant difference both to our flight operations and to the people of Guernsey.”

Stefano Bortoli, ATR’s CEO, said: “ATR’s aim is always to develop solutions that will have genuine impact for our operators and also on the travel experience of their passengers. Aurigny’s new ATRs, equipped with ClearVision™ will reduce delays and cancellations for its passengers. To have Aurigny as the launch customer for this technology is the perfect seal of approval for its effectiveness. We are proud that our latest-generation ATRs equipped with this cutting-edge solution will provide improved connectivity for the people of Guernsey.”

Aurigny currently operates more than 15,000 flights a year to 14 destinations in the UK and Europe.