FARNBOROUGH—In an effort to overcome different approaches of the company’s shareholders, ATR CEO Patrick de Castelbajac is proposing a sequence of initiatives that includes re-engining the ATR 72, and could ultimately result in a new 100-seater.                                                                       
“Leonardo [formerly Finmeccanica] wants a 100-seater, and Airbus is favoring a stretched ATR with a new engine,” de Castelbajac said at the air show here. “I am trying to get the two [parent companies] to converge.”
One way to reconcile differing views and address market needs is to do both. “We could re-engine the current platform to bridge some years, and then launch a 100-seater,” de Castelbajac said. “A two-step approach could make sense.”
ATR has entered discussions about providing a new engine for a larger version of the ATR with both Pratt & Whitney Canada and General Electric. De Castelbajac said the current PW127M engine is still “doing a good job, but it is old.” ATR hopes a new powerplant could deliver at least a 15% improvement in fuel burn, and a 25% reduction in maintenance costs. The fuel-burn improvement could even be higher with some aerodynamic changes the company is considering.