Less than a year after its maiden flight, crash occurs: TransAsia says it will cooperate with CAA in inspecting ATR aircraft

▲ Salvage operations continued on the night of February 4. (Photo / Reporter Zhou Chenheng)

Reported by Chen Ruizhong / Taipei

With TransAsia Airways experiencing an ATR72-500 crash in Penghu in July 2014 and now an ATR72-600 accident in Nangang, many are understandably concerned about the safety of ATR aircraft.

On February 18, 2014, TransAsia Airways welcomed its first new ATR72-600 aircraft at Songshan Airport and launched its inaugural Songshan–Makung route on February 21. At the celebration event, then-TransAsia General Manager Xu Yicong stated that the ATR72-600 offers advantages such as fuel efficiency and long range, making it suitable for domestic routes. TransAsia would also become Taiwan’s only airline using the ATR72-600 as its main aircraft.

According to TransAsia’s data, one of the standout features of the ATR72-600 is its fully digital cockpit, similar to that of the A380, along with two sets of global navigation satellite systems that provide pilots with a better operating environment and efficiency. Additionally, designs such as the PW127 engine and six-blade propellers help improve flight efficiency. Each ATR72-600 is configured with 72 seats and has a maximum range of 900 nautical miles, making it a highly relied-upon aircraft model for TransAsia.

▲ TransAsia’s ATR72-600 maiden flight ceremony held on February 21, 2014. (The aircraft in the photo is not the one involved in this accident.)

TransAsia stated that the ATR72-600 aircraft involved in this incident was only received on April 14, 2014, and had accumulated just over 1,000 flight hours. Therefore, the actual cause of the accident still needs to be determined pending the results of the investigation. Civil Aeronautics Administration Flight Standards Division Director Lin Junliang also pointed out that the ATR72 is known for its fuel efficiency, which is why many airlines assign ATR72 models to short-haul routes. Among Taiwanese carriers, TransAsia operates a total of 11 ATR72-500 and ATR72-600 aircraft, while Uni Air has a combined fleet of 12.

▲ The ATR72-600 model used by Uni Air.

In addition to its ATR aircraft serving short-haul routes, TransAsia also operates models such as the A330-300, A320, and A321. It has purchased four A330-800neo aircraft for long-haul route development, with delivery expected in the fourth quarter of 2018. TransAsia also plans to operate charter flights to Tinian Island in the United States in the second half of this year.

Following today’s air disaster, the Civil Aeronautics Administration has ordered a special inspection of the power systems of all ATR aircraft operated by domestic airlines; otherwise, they will be grounded. TransAsia has also stated that it will cooperate with the inspections and will resume flights only after all aircraft have completed the special checks and been confirmed as airworthy.