UT133: UFA → KZN – Flight Guide

The ATR72 is a French-Italian twin-engine turboprop aircraft manufactured by ATR (Aerei da Trasporto Regionale). It is one of the world's most popular regional aircraft, used extensively for short routes connecting smaller cities and regional airports where jet aircraft would be uneconomical.

The ATR72 is a well-proven regional aircraft with a strong safety record, certified by all major aviation authorities and operated by hundreds of airlines worldwide. Turboprop aircraft like the ATR72 are extensively used in challenging environments including mountain routes, island hopping, and remote airstrips, demonstrating their robustness and reliability.

The ATR72 uses turboprop engines that drive large propellers, which produce more noise than jet engines. The noise is particularly noticeable at the rear of the cabin close to the propellers. Front seats are significantly quieter. The noise is normal and expected — it doesn't indicate any problem with the aircraft.

The ATR72 flies at lower altitudes (typically 15,000-25,000 feet vs 35,000+ for jets), which means it is more susceptible to weather-related turbulence. However, it is designed to handle these conditions. If you're a nervous flyer, sitting over the wing and focusing on the views can help.

The ATR72 typically seats 68-78 passengers in a 2-2 layout (two seats on each side of a single aisle). There is no centre section, making it very easy for all passengers to reach the aisle. The cabin is narrow but the 2-2 layout means most passengers have either a window or aisle seat.

The ATR72 is designed for short regional flights, typically under 2 hours. Its range is about 1,500 km. It's commonly used for island routes, mountain airport connections, and regional hub-to-spoke services where larger jets cannot operate efficiently.

Front seats (rows 1-5) are significantly quieter as they are furthest from the propellers. All seats in the 2-2 layout have either a window or aisle, so there are no centre seats. Window seats offer great low-altitude views of the landscape.

The ATR72 has small overhead bins, but they are more limited than on jet aircraft. Larger carry-on bags are often gate-checked (stored in the hold for free). The cabin is narrow, so large bags may not fit even in the bins. Travel light or check your bag to avoid issues.

The ATR72 has one small toilet at the rear of the aircraft. On very short flights (under 1 hour), some airlines may not have toilet facilities available. It's advisable to use the airport facilities before boarding.

Almost no ATR72 operations include Wi-Fi, as the short flight duration and regional nature of operations make it impractical. The flights are generally short enough that offline entertainment (downloaded content) is more than sufficient.

The ATR72 typically cruises at 15,000-25,000 feet, significantly lower than jets which cruise at 35,000-41,000 feet. This lower altitude means better views of the landscape below, and pressure changes during climb and descent may be more noticeable to some passengers.

The ATR72 can be more challenging for nervous flyers due to its smaller size, propeller noise, and lower altitude flying. However, its strong safety record and the short duration of most ATR72 flights mean that anxiety is usually manageable. Choosing a front window seat and focusing on the scenery often helps.

The ATR72 is slower, noisier, and smaller than jet aircraft, but it's perfectly designed for its role. It can use shorter runways, which jets cannot, enabling routes to mountain airports and small islands. The lower altitude flying often provides spectacular views not available from high-altitude jet flights.

ATR72 operators include FlyBe, Braathens Regional, Flybe, Aurigny, Loganair, Finnair, Air France, IndiGo, Binter Canarias, and hundreds of regional carriers worldwide. It is especially common in Scandinavia, the Mediterranean islands, and Southeast Asia.

The ATR72 has standard economy seats in a 2-2 layout. While narrower than widebody jets, every seat has either a window or aisle access, which is better than middle seats on larger aircraft. For short flights under 2 hours, comfort is generally adequate.