newstodate.aero
Feb 03, 2012 (newstodate): The Russian aviation authorities have now certified the ATR-42 and ATR-72 for use on the country's unpaved airfields.
So far, the work-horse on flights into the country's many local small airfields has been the AN-24 that will, however, be phased out for lack of EGPWS equipment that is now to be obligatory.
This clears the road for the local and regional carriers to opt instead for western-built aircraft like the ATR.
The problem is, however, that most small Russian carriers cannot afford to acquire the more expensive western aircraft, and the secondary market for the ATR aircraft is rather limited, with residual values still comparatively high.
So far, the work-horse on flights into the country's many local small airfields has been the AN-24 that will, however, be phased out for lack of EGPWS equipment that is now to be obligatory.
This clears the road for the local and regional carriers to opt instead for western-built aircraft like the ATR.
The problem is, however, that most small Russian carriers cannot afford to acquire the more expensive western aircraft, and the secondary market for the ATR aircraft is rather limited, with residual values still comparatively high.