The ATR 42-500 is a twin-turboprop regional airliner, part of the ATR 42 family of aircraft. It represents a significant advancement over earlier models, featuring six-blade propellers for improved performance and noise reduction.
The ATR 42 program began in the early 1980s, jointly developed by Aérospatiale of France (now part of Airbus) and Aeritalia of Italy (now Leonardo S.p.A.). The first ATR 42 made its maiden flight on August 16, 1984, and entered service in December 1985. The -500 variant was introduced later as an upgraded version. The ATR consortium, which manufactures the aircraft, is a 50/50 joint venture between Airbus and Leonardo. The ATR 42-500 is not manufactured by Airbus Helicopters.
A range of platforms and access solutions are available for maintenance on this aircraft, assisting with various maintenance needs. These solutions offer access across the airframe, including the nose section for avionics checks, the forward fuselage for cargo and cabin access, the landing gear bays (NLG and MLG), and the wing box area for fuel and oil maintenance. Specialized access systems also support work on the wing and engine pylon, which includes critical components like the engine inlet/exhaust, fan, and turbine, as well as the hydraulic and fuel systems. Access solutions are also available for the AFT fuselage sections, including the cargo and avionics bays, and the tail section (empennage) for the APU and control surfaces like the vertical and horizontal stabilizers. The available platforms and stands—including Reach Deck Platform, Modular Stepover Platforms, Super Trestle Scaffold, Ultraraise, Super Service Stand, Easyraise, Bridge Deck, Cantilever Platform, Aviation Chock and Cone Trolley, Super Maintenance Platform, Branach Fibreglass Platform, A Frame Aviation Platform, and Platform Ladder Warthog—provide thorough access for comprehensive maintenance across all aircraft sections.
