Ian Sheppard has acted as Editor International Show Editions for AIN since June 2013. Based in the Redhill, England, Ian reports for the various AIN publications as well as providing support to International Editor Charles Alcock in covering international air shows (such as Farnborough, Paris, Singapore and Dubai), and the EBACE and MEBA business aviation events. His central role is to cover Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Prior to becoming more involved with AIN in mid-2011 (initially as deputy international editor), Ian worked for various aviation publications through his company, First Aerospace Media. This included being part of the AIN team covering daily news at international air shows.
Ian has worked for publications such as Flight International (technical reporter, 1997-8) and Aerospace International (editor, 1999-2000). He was publications manager at Airclaims (Ascend) between 2000 and 2004 before forming First Aerospace Media. Since mid-2009 Ian has also been managing editor of Regional International, the journal of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA).
Ian hasis working towards a European commercial pilot licence, having held an FAA private pilot license in 1991, and instructor rating. He also has a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Bath, England, and a graduate diploma in law from Kingston University, and is a graduate of the legal practice course (College of Law, Guildford).

Editor

Ian Sheppard

Anyone doubting the staying power of turboprop aircraft in the regional airline sector probably should have visited Toulouse on May 3 to see ATR delivering the 1,000th example of its twin turboprop series. Spanish carrier Air Nostrum received its latest ATR 72-600 in a ceremony presided over by the heads of ATR’s shareholders: EADS outgoing chief executive Louis Gallois and Giuseppe Orsi, chairman and CEO of Italy’s Finmeccanica.


ATR delivered its first aircraft—an ATR 42—to France’s Air Littoral on Dec. 3, 1985. The popular, fuel-efficient turboprop has seen a resurgence in recent years thanks to the negative effect of high fuel prices on the productivity of jets on shorter, regional routes. Some 180 airlines in 90 countries around the world now operate ATRs. “Since 2005, ATR has recorded almost half of all of its orders and delivered nearly a third of its aircraft,” ATR chief executive Filippo Bagnato pointed out.


Last year's record sales of 157 aircraft by the Franco-Italian manufacturer represented 80 percent of international sales of regional aircraft carrying 90 seats or less. “In 2004 we had an order backlog of five aircraft… [and] we were delivering only one aircraft a month… It was one of the last years of ‘jet mania,’” reflected Bagnato. “Then [in 2005] we said we have to launch the message that we are confident and go for 1,000. Now we are three times the size of 2005. We have more than 1,200 aircraft already in our order book.”


The company now aims to produce seven aircraft a month by 2014. ATR’s work to modernize the aircraft over the past five years has further accelerated demand. Before the May 3 ceremony AIN had the opportunity to fly the ATR 72-500 simulator, which clearly showed how much of an advance the newer -600 flight deck represents. ATR is now moving toward building all of its aircraft with the new ‘glass cockpit,’ which makes it a more pilot-friendly aircraft and helps prepare airlines for future advances in the ATC environment.


The 1,000th aircraft is the second of five to be acquired by Air Nostrum through a sale-leaseback arrangement with Nordic Aviation Capital. Air Nostrum expects to take delivery of three more ATR 72s in July, by which time it will likely decide whether or not to convert options it holds on another 10 to firm orders.

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