www.airtahiti.com > Our fleet

AIR TAHITI operates 11 turboprop aircraft : 3 ATR42-500, 7 ATR72-500, 1 Twin Otter*, and 1 Beechcraft chartered to Air Archipels

* A French Polynesian property operated by Air Tahiti

Aircraft details

ATR42 - 48 seats ATR72 - 66 seats

Beechcraft - 9 sièges Twin Otter - 19 sièges

The ATR

The ATR 42-500 and ATR 72-500 are the latest versions of the ATR family. With more than 640 ATRs flying worldwide, the latest versions have gained the experience of more than 12 years of service.

Both aircraft types offer enhanced technical performances and a high level of comfort. An ideal response to short sector networks, they are capable of serving runways of less than 1200 m. The ATR 42 and the ATR 72 offer a quality of service comparable to that of the jet, with a lower than average fuel consumption, and at a cruising speed of 300 knots (550 km/h).

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Performance

With PW 127 E Pratt and Whitney Canada motor, the generation 500 ATR offers an excellent level of performance:

• A cruising speed superior to 300 knots;
• A fast ascent of 1500 feet to 17000 feet in less than 10mn;
• Remarkable performances at takeoff and flight with only one motor, including at high altitude or high temperature;
• Maximized operational weights which take into consideration new regulations, give to this type of aircraft a maximal range of 870 nautical miles, and a round trip distance of 370 mile without refuelling, with full load in both cases.

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Comfort

The generation 500 ATR has an important number of improvements in the field of noise and vibration, particularly:

• A six-blades propeller, designed by Hamilton Standard and Ratier Figeac;
• A structural treatment of the fuselage with the installation of dynamic absorbents of vibrations;
• A "new-look" interior made with acoustic absorbent materials;
• Removal of superfluous noises sources such as outlets of pressurization valves and hydraulic pumps;
• Possibility of installation of noise active controls.

Those improvements as a whole guarantee a passenger comfort equivalent to a jet one.

Moreover, the ATR has a "new-look" interior characterized by:

• A restylized environment;
• The addition of a high rail in order to help the passengers and cabin crew movements.
  The generation 500 ATR includes a silenter airconditioning system which supplies 35% additional cooling capacity compared with ATR42-300.

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An environmental aircraft

ATR family has been designed to reduce at maximum noise pollution and to minimize the impact on the environment.
The "-500" line, thanks to its high technology propulsion system, benefits from an important number of improvements in noise and vibrations field, which reduces more sound emissions.
Moreover, by their design, the ATRs have a weaker impact on the greenhouse effect than most of other means of transport. In fact, the new generation of turboprops emits around 20% less of CO2 by passenger-kilometer than the recent regional jets. As for nitrous oxides, studies show that ATR pollutes 3 times less than cars.
The respect of environment is always a preoccupation of ATR constructor; aircraft conception and evolution lead toward this direction. That's why, to date, the european consortium can pride itself on the advantages of its planes in this field. In this spirtit, a sticker designed by ATR is placed on the ATR fuselage, next to the passengers gate. This 30cm diameter sticker represents the turboprop drawing with the mention "Environment Friendly".

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Flying in Polynesia

A few comments will illustrate the originality of operating an airline like AIR TAHITI in Polynesia :

• The 48 runways of the network have different characteristics which define the choice of the operated aircraft and the loading capacities. Most runways are paved but the more rudimentary ones are made of crushed coral which is the case for most of the islands of the Eastern Tuamotu network. Only 12 runways are equipped with runway lights for night time access and sunset time is one of the variables taken into account when scheduling flights.
• Flying over water implies keeping within a certain distance from the closest airfield. Thus, the route of certain flights should not be linear but rather a broken line. AIR TAHITI has obtained the ETOPS certification (Extended Twin Operations) on all aircraft thus freeing itself from this constraint which would have lengthened the flight durations. It is the first company to have obtained this certification on the ATR 72.
• AIR TAHITI’s fleet is turboprop based, a well-adapted choice for inter-island use. The runway lengths, flight sector length, refueling options, render this type of aircraft the best technical and economical compromise.
• When a flight payload restriction is enforced, a precise handling of the passengers, luggage and freight, must be done.
• The seasonal demand varies greatly with a ratio from single to triple between the weakest and the strongest week. Certain events such as the Hawaiki canoe race (october) will command exceptional means to respond to the demand.

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Security issues

Regulations are enforced by the french state Civil Aviation Authority.

Maintenance is performed in the Air Tahiti technical center in Tahiti, where a sizable spare-part stock is maintained. The more in-depth engine checks are performed in Europe and USA.

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Air Tahiti’s contribution to the development of the islands

Air Tahiti has a major role to fulfill given the insular nature of french Polynesia. Opening up services to all of the islands is part of its mission even though it may mean servicing structurally costly routes.

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