Thales technologies on board ATR 72–600

Civil Aviation
Commercial aviation

Type Insight
Published 20 June 2013

The ATR 72–600, featuring Thales’s Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA), offers pilots a highly simplified and advanced working environment. With cutting-edge navigation, communication, and surveillance systems, the redesigned cockpit enhances operational efficiency, reduces maintenance costs, and ensures long-term adaptability.

Advanced avionics and high-performance cockpit solutions for the ATR 72–600.

A key step on the path towards certification of the UAS100 drone was achieved with the Design Verification Report for drone operations achieved by a full drone system using ScaleFlyt avionics solutions.

Thales was selected in 2007 as the lead systems integrator for the ATR 72–600 avionics suite. The cockpit features a Flight Management System (FMS), an AFDX data transmission network, and a latest-generation autopilot system. The innovative Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) platform improves performance while reducing weight and energy consumption. This modular approach ensures easy upgrades for future enhancements, making the ATR 72–600 a benchmark in regional aviation.

A high-performance cockpit

The new cockpit of the ATR 72–600 is designed with a strong emphasis on ergonomics and operational efficiency. Key features include:

30% fewer parts, reducing maintenance needs
15% lower operational costs
Enhanced reliability and modular design, ensuring long-term usability
State-of-the-art avionics, offering improved navigation and communication

The Glass Cockpit: A New Generation Interface

The ATR 72–600 introduces a highly advanced glass cockpit with five IAD68 large-format LCD screens. These displays integrate:

Primary Flight Displays (PFDs) for enhanced situational awareness
Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) for navigation and system synoptics
Engine and Warning Display (EWD) for real-time system monitoring

This advanced human-machine interface significantly reduces pilot workload while increasing safety and operational efficiency.

A Trusted Autopilot System

The ATR 72–600 is equipped with an Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) that includes precision approach capability. It required less than 100 hours of test flights, far exceeding industry efficiency benchmarks.

The autopilot ensures precision landings in poor visibility conditions, automatically guiding the aircraft down to 100 feet above the runway before the pilot takes over.