Six months of service plying key mining towns in Queensland's northwest has helped showcase the ATR42-500 to other mining markets.
MacAir introduced the aircraft late last year to accommodate soaring demand for regional and remove air services as a result of the Queensland mining boom. ATR had been banking on the aircraft proving itself in the harsh Queensland outback. The company is keen to supply aircraft to other fly-in, fly-out providers.
MacAir managing director Randal McFarlane said outback Queensland was challenging territory for both man and machine.
"We needed a high-capacity turbo prop aircraft to accommodate growing demand," he said. "But we also needed an aircraft that could perform effectively and reliably in a tough - at times extreme - operating environment."
McFarlane said the ATR had delivered.
One location the ATR services - Cloncurry - holds the record for the highest temperature recorded in Australia. Back in 1869 the mercury there nudged 53C.
The aircraft also conducts fly-in, fly-out operations to minesites such as Zinifex's Century Mine and BHP Billiton's Cannington and Osborne mines.
Since entering revenue service in September, MacAir's ATR42-500 has proved reliable in its services from Townsville to Cloncurry, even more remote Mt Isa and private mine airstrips.
"The ATR42-500 is a high-speed, low-noise aircraft that offers a spacious passenger cabin fitted with cool and comfortable leather-covered seats, plus a galley, a toilet/washroom and a substantial freight compartment," McFarlane said.
"The two by two seat cabin layout guarantees that every passenger has a window or aisle seat, the generous overhead luggage lockers provide plenty of space for carry-on items and the 50-person capacity meets the demand for more seats on our busiest or fastest growing routes.
"In addition, the ATR42-500 is an in-production aircraft incorporating not only the latest in cabin facilities but the most fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly engines of any aircraft in this category.
"And very important for the remote markets serviced by the ATR, the aircraft offers excellent air conditioning in the passenger cabin."
ATR sales director Australia and South Pacific Laurent Negre said the MacAir experience in Queensland boded well for the aircraft in other fly-in, fly-out markets.
"As Australia's resources boom continues, so too does the demand to fly skilled personnel into remote mining communities in Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia," he said.
"The MacAir operation in Queensland has not only provided effective and reliable services to resources sites in that state, it has also demonstrated that it is a very capable aircraft, able to operate effectively, efficiently and economically in extreme conditions anywhere.
"From the MacAir experience we are confident the ATR42-500 and the larger ATR72-500 can perform equally effectively in Queensland and other remote markets elsewhere in Australia, such as WA, where resources companies are increasing their operations and needing to fly in additional qualified personnel."
This story orginally appeared in the May 2008 edition of Australia's Mining Monthly magazine.
