Iran Purchases 40 ATR Aircraft

Following the lifting of nuclear sanctions, Iran is attempting to modernize its light commercial fleet by purchasing 40 new aircraft from the French-Italian manufacturer ATR. Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan, Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development, stated at the Iran Aviation Conference 2016: "A contract has been signed to purchase 40 short-range aircraft from ATR, with the majority of these planes to be delivered to Iran during 2016 and 2017." Currently, domestic flights in Iran are operated with a small number of passengers using three aircraft: Fokker 100, ATR 72, and BAe 146. Among these three models, two have not been produced for years, and their manufacturing companies have either gone bankrupt or dissolved. However, of the three commonly used aircraft in Iran with a capacity of 50 to 100 seats, the ATR 72 is still actively produced by its manufacturer and is considered one of the best in the small passenger aircraft sector. The ATR 72 features two turboprop engines and is produced by the French-Italian company ATR. The difference between this aircraft and the other two models used in Iran lies in its engine type. The turboprop engine means it has a propeller instead of a large fan found in turbofan engines. Turboprop engines are a type of gas turbine engine that uses the rotation of the turbine shaft to turn the propeller and create thrust. These engines are suitable for aircraft with short ranges and speeds below 700 kilometers per hour, and they are economically advantageous due to their lower fuel consumption and maintenance costs compared to turbofan engines. Typically, these aircraft are suitable for distances under 700 kilometers. The latest ATR 72 (model 600) costs $24 million. In recent years, alongside the ATR aircraft, some airlines in Iran have attempted to meet part of the demand for small commercial aircraft with the Iran 140 or Antonov 140. The Iran 140 also uses a turboprop engine. However, due to the use of a modified engine from the Russian Mi-17 helicopter in the aircraft produced in Iran, many of these planes faced engine issues. Additionally, this aircraft was not well-suited to Iran's climate and had problems at high altitudes. The first accident involving this aircraft in Iran occurred in 2002, when an Antonov-140 crashed near Ardestan, killing several aerospace experts from Ukraine and Russia who had come to open a production line for a similar model in Iran. In 2009, an Iran 140 passenger aircraft crashed near Shahin Shahr Airport in Isfahan. In 2014, another Antonov-140 flying from Mehrabad Airport in Tehran to Tabas crashed north of Mehrabad Airport, killing 39 passengers and injuring 9 others. These incidents led to the prohibition of using this aircraft. However, for routes over 700 kilometers in Iran with a low number of passengers, it is better to choose an aircraft with a turbofan engine that can transport passengers to their destination faster. For this segment, the Embraer ERJ 145 with a capacity of 50 passengers and a speed of 850 kilometers per hour is considered one of the best options. The Canadian company Bombardier is a strong competitor to Brazil's Embraer in this segment with its CRJ 100/200 model. This Canadian 50-seater aircraft costs $24 million and has a speed of 860 kilometers per hour. If the seating capacity is to reach 80 seats, another model from this Canadian company, the CRJ 700/900, could be a good option for Iran's aviation industry. How many small passenger aircraft does Iran need? Initially, Iran's aviation needs were estimated at 400 new aircraft, while recent studies suggest this number is 600. Of this total, Iran needs 10 to 20 percent of aircraft with fewer than 80 seats and a range of under 700 kilometers. Based on this, Iran currently needs 60 to 120 ATR-type aircraft. It seems that the purchase of 40 aircraft from ATR may cover about half of this requirement. Currently, Aseman Airlines is the main user of ATR aircraft in Iran, operating flights to over 40 domestic cities and 13 foreign cities. Domestic flights by Aseman are conducted using small ATR 72, Fokker 100, and medium-range Boeing 727 aircraft. The company currently has 6 ATR aircraft, covering most of Iran's small airports. The purchase of 40 ATR aircraft could meet the needs of many small airports in Iran and contribute to their growth and development. One of the most significant advantages of ATR aircraft over other passenger aircraft is their low price, which can be suitable for small airlines in Iran, as these companies typically cannot afford expensive aircraft. Additionally, lower fuel consumption and maintenance costs help small companies operate flights to small cities in Iran.