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-   -   has anyone ever flown on ATR 72 or ATR 42 planes? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/has-anyone-ever-flown-on-atr-72-or-atr-42-planes-573597/)

daisy58 Nov 29th, 2005 11:55 PM

has anyone ever flown on ATR 72 or ATR 42 planes?
 
in my ever changing (and almost settled!)
travel plans, one of the flights on Lufthansa is from Munich to Genoa on an ATR72
turboprop, and from Venice to Munich on an ATR42 turboprop. I am assuming that since these are used by Lufthansa that they are stable and safe, have any of you ever flown on these????

CU Nov 30th, 2005 02:44 AM

They are both safe airlines. The ATR 42 is the original version with seating capacity of appox 50. It was later extended to a bigger version with a seating capacity of around 74 and that is known as ATR72.
No problem. Enjoy the flight.

Intrepid1 Nov 30th, 2005 04:50 AM

I've flown the aircraft between Miami and Nassau on American.

Since you won't be flying over water I will not even go near the topic of what happens to planes with passenger cabins "suspended" belong their wing spans when they have to "ditch."

TRUST ME..you WILL arrive safe and sound.

Intrepid1 Nov 30th, 2005 04:51 AM

oops should have said "suspended BELOW their wingspans"

rkkwan Nov 30th, 2005 05:17 AM

With the high wings on these planes, you should have good views of the Alps.

lobo_mau Nov 30th, 2005 07:08 AM

good luck daisy

wally34949 Nov 30th, 2005 07:18 AM

I would avoid the plane only if it has three feet of snow on its top.

platzman Nov 30th, 2005 10:16 AM

I have flown many times on these planes, albeit on short flights of an hour or less. There is nothing wrong or unsafe with these planes. However, the engine noise and vibration from the props can get uncomfortable.

daisy58 Nov 30th, 2005 10:48 AM

plazman--these are shortish flights,
1hr 40 min munich to genoa -ATR 72 (night flight, if it matters) and 1hr 20 min
venice to munich - ATR 42(afternoon flight)any thoughts???

thanos_GR Nov 30th, 2005 01:56 PM

hello daisy58

Olympic and Aegean have these planes between Mykonos and Athens. I travel plenty of times on them with no problem. Yesterday was last time I use it from Athens to my island.

Yes, a little noissy but steady also. They manufacture in France I am sure.

In aircraft there is two seats both sides of narrow aisle. Baggage is loaded at front of plane behind cabin to the left side. Lockers above seats is small so do not take big hand luggage.

You access aircraft from door at rear where small galley and toilet is. On our local flights alwyas two attendents.

I enjoy the planes and I am sure you will too. They are comfortable for me.

thanos


sfowler Nov 30th, 2005 02:03 PM

They are used in SE Asia also by some of the regional carriers. They are fine. The larger issue is the actual airline and that's answered if it is Lufthansa.

daisy58 Nov 30th, 2005 02:06 PM

Thank you Thanos GR, this is very helpful information! one short question before I book the flights, my
husband is always nervous about flying(not to the point of hysteria, but he does take a xanex before a flight) Do you think he will fare well, or will we divorce when we come home? LOL

daisy58 Nov 30th, 2005 02:08 PM

sfowler-they are Lufthansa flights operated by Air Dolomiti. does that seem okay? thanks

FlyFish Nov 30th, 2005 02:26 PM

I've flown on both aircraft many times, and they're fine, so don't worry about that. As with turboprops generally, unlike jets, the quietest seats will be in the rear.

The ATR-42 was introduced in 1981. There are about 330 in service and there have been about 6 incidents involving fatalities, with about half of those clearly unrelated to the aircraft. One was due to icing (more on that below).

The ATR-72 is essentially a "stretched" -42. An American Eagle ATR-72 went down on approach to O'Hare back in 1994 due to an icing problem that I believe was eventually pinned on a design flaw and, I'm sure, since corrected. Otherwise the plane has a good safety record (4 incidents total, 3 with fatalities) - it was introduced in 1986 and there are about 270 in service around the world.

sfowler Nov 30th, 2005 03:27 PM

I'm not the person to aask as I merrily boarded Tupleov aircraft used by a now defunct Macedonian carrier.

Air Dolmati is a code-share I am sure rather than an owned subsidiary [Cirrus is another]. Lufthansa wouldn't do that it there were any serious questions about the airline.

thanos_GR Nov 30th, 2005 03:46 PM

hello daisy

I am sure your husband will be ok. Tell him when waiting to fly that noise beside captains cabin is luggage being loaded. I see many tourists with worried face when they do not understand what the noise is.

For me, I compare with the Macedonian Airline 737 that Olympic some time used between Mykonos and Athens. The ATR is small, noisier and maybe you feel movement a little more when turning but, I enjoy it more than the 737 as it fly lower and views is great. Also I prefer smaller aircraft as quick to leave and to board.

Yes, Flyfish is good to say stay for seats at rear of aircraft. this is my usual place and is better.

thanos

Pegontheroad Nov 30th, 2005 09:22 PM

No, but I've flown on Tarom (Rumanian National Airline--It was an Ilushin 18), Flying Tiger, and Air America, which I found out later was the CIA airline.

Sorry. I couldn't resist.


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