As a flight attendant the aircraft type I am trained for is the ATR-72. This a smaller turbo prop aircraft that seats a maximum of 72 passengers, this can vary among airlines. In Australia when flying around the country you're more likely to fly on a jet or and airbus therefore, I often find passengers quite fascinated and sometimes bemused about the ATR. So here are some fun facts about this quirky little aircraft.
1. As the ATR is a smaller aircraft we fly at a lower altitude compared to larger aircrafts. This means we tend to punch through more adverse weather and more likely to experience turbulence (or in technical flight attendant speak 'bumps') throughout the whole flight not just on the climb and decent.
2. Leading on from number one, if you do not tend to enjoy the excitement of turbulence, choose to sit towards the front of the aircraft. It is much less bumpy down the front compared to the back. I can't tell you how many times I've seen my senior flight attendant sitting in the rear jump seat being thrown around in their seat, while I'm sitting perfectly comfortable down the front, saying 'what bumps?'
3. Boarding the ATR in most airlines around the world is from the rear of the aircraft, there is no door at the front due to fact number 4....
4. Checked baggage is not stored under the cabin like you would see on a jet. In fact there are two cargo compartments for baggage on the ATR. The first one is at the front of aircraft and is in between the cabin and the cockpit. Yes, that door you're seeing at the front of the cabin is NOT the cockpit door. The second compartment is in the rear of the cabin on the opposite side to boarding.
5. Weight and balance matters. The maximum takeoff weight for the ATR is only 23 tonne. The distribution of passengers and baggage in the cargo holds must be done so that the centre of gravity remains within a specific envelope. Otherwise the aircraft can be dangerous to fly and control. So when when passengers are asked to move due to the weight and balance of the aircraft, we're not lying, it's legit!
6. Due to the size of the aircraft it is most commonly used to fly into smaller regional airports. These routes tend to have less demand so using a smaller aircraft is more cost effective. The ATR can also land on a shorter runway compared to larger aircrafts, which is perfect because regional ports tend to have shorter runways.
7. What is that stick under the tail end of the ATR? It's called a tail prop. Because of the way the ATR is designed, if there is too much weight applied to the rear of the aircraft, for example, during boarding, the aircraft can tip onto its tail. The tail prop is designed to protect the aircraft from incurring damage if this was to occur. Throughout my time flying on the ATR I have never had this happen, yet. The tail prop remains in place at all times when the aircraft is parked at a bay and undergoing loading/unloading, boarding and disembarking. It will be removed by ground crew prior to door closure and stowed securely in the rear galley. We do not want to be taking off with that thing still attached!
8. While the ATR may be on the smaller side surprisingly there is slightly more legroom and longer seatbelts compared to some of the larger aircrafts in economy class.
9. Yes there is a toilet (lavatory) on the ATR, it is located down the back of the aircraft in the rear galley. One hot tip, to open the door, twist the handle and push. Surprise this door operates like any other normal door with a twisting door handle.
10. What is hotel mode? This mode is unique to the ATR. It means that the right hand engine is able to be started and run without the propeller spinning. This allows the engine to act as a generator, removing the need to be connected to a ground power unit. Hotel mode is mostly used once boarding is complete and prior to starting the left hand engine.
Bonus fact: Why is it called hotel mode? The term originated from cruise ships. When a cruise ship pulled into a port they would disengage the propeller and keep the power running, thus turning the ship into a 'hotel'. Mind blown!
Shout out to my good friend Liam Walsh for the cover photo of this blog and contributing to the content.
There you have it, 10 fun facts about the ATR. Have you flown on the ATR before, what are some things you find quirky or interesting about this little beast? drop your answer in the comment section below.
XOXO
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