ATR 42-600

Updated: October 2026 – A small high-wing aircraft with a T-tail turns onto the runway, the two six-blade propellers spool up, and after a surprisingly short roll the aircraft lifts off: chances are you have just seen an ATR 42-600. Because it looks confusingly similar to its big sister, the ATR 72, this page shows you how to tell the two apart, how to distinguish it from the Dash 8 and why it is a real stroke of luck in German-speaking countries.

What is the ATR 42-600?

The ATR 42-600 is the current version of the smaller ATR turboprop. The abbreviation stands for the French-Italian manufacturer ATR, a joint venture of Airbus and Leonardo based in Toulouse. The number 42 originally referred to the seat count of the first version; today, according to ATR, the cabin holds 30 to 50 passengers depending on the layout, with 48 seats typical.

The family’s history goes back a long way: the very first ATR 42 took off in Toulouse on August 16, 1984, and the -300 version entered scheduled service at the end of 1985. Through the -320, -400 and -500, ATR steadily developed the type further. In October 2007 the company announced the -600 series, and the ATR 42-600 flew for the first time on March 4, 2010. The first production aircraft went to Precision Air of Tanzania in November 2012.

The heart of the modernization sits in the cockpit: a glass cockpit with large displays instead of the older instrumentation. Added to that are Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127M engines with a boost function that provides extra takeoff power when needed. New aircraft now receive the further development PW127XT, which offers longer intervals between overhauls and somewhat lower fuel consumption.

ATR itself describes the ATR 42-600 as the only regional aircraft in production in the 30-to-50-seat segment. That is exactly what makes it interesting for island connections, remote regions and thin routes where a jet or an ATR 72 would be too big. According to the manufacturer, it flies around 1,345 kilometers with a full cabin and needs about 1,100 meters of takeoff distance at maximum takeoff weight at sea level.

The three features that are enough to identify it

For beginners, turboprops often raise more questions than jets, because there are fewer obvious details. With three observations you can still be sure quickly with the ATR 42-600.

The last question – -500 or -600? – your eye can hardly answer. Both versions carry six-blade propellers and are largely identical externally; the essential difference lies behind the cockpit windows. Only the registration helps here. How to read it and look it up in databases is explained in the article Understanding aircraft registrations.

ATR 42-600 or ATR 72-600?

Both types run down the same line in Toulouse and share many systems, the cockpit and the basic shape. For spotters this is the most common mix-up.

Feature	ATR 42-600	ATR 72-600
ICAO type designator	AT46	AT76
Length	22.67 m	around 27.2 m
Wingspan	24.57 m	around 27.1 m
Typical seat count	48 (30–50)	around 70
Look in profile	compact, wings longer than fuselage	stretched, fuselage about as long as the wingspan

In a photo, the distance between the cockpit and the wing’s leading edge helps: on the ATR 72 there are noticeably more windows there, and the fuselage is also longer behind the wing. Once you have seen the two side by side, you will recognize the difference intuitively later. You can find more about the big sister on the page about the ATR 72-600.

ATR, Dash 8 or Twin Otter?

Besides the ATR 72, other regional turboprops mainly come into question. The finder helps you narrow it down with three observations.

The Dash 8-400 is the most direct competitor of the ATR 72, not the ATR 42 – it is much bigger and faster. The DHC-6 Twin Otter, by contrast, plays a class below. And if you are generally unsure about assigning the design, the basics article Identifying aircraft types for beginners helps.

Where you can find the ATR 42-600

This is where it gets exciting for spotters in German-speaking countries – and a little frustrating. As of October 2026, none of the big scheduled airlines in Germany, Austria or Switzerland operates the ATR 42-600 regularly. The regional fleets of Lufthansa, Swiss or Austrian Airlines consist of jets such as the Embraer E190, the Airbus A220 or the CRJ900. An ATR 42-600 here is therefore usually a visitor: on charter and ad hoc flights, on ferry flights to maintenance shops or on wet lease when an airline needs capacity at short notice. What is behind such an operation is explained in the article on wet lease.

The chances are somewhat better in Europe outside the DACH region. Scotland’s Loganair operates two ATR 42-600s alongside older ATR 42-500s (as of spring 2026) and is thus one of the best-known European addresses for the type. Worldwide, the ATR 42-600 mainly flies where runways are short and passenger numbers small: on island networks, in remote regions and on feeder routes.

Place	Chance of a hit	Why
Large DACH hubs	low	No regular scheduled operations, at most visitors and charter
Regional airports with charter traffic	low to medium	Ad hoc and sports charters occasionally use small turboprops
Scotland and the British Isles	medium	Loganair operates ATR 42-500s and -600s
Island networks worldwide	high	Classic operating area for 30- to 50-seaters

Because the type is so rare in this part of the world, a look at live data is worthwhile: how that works and what data ADS-B provides is covered in the guide to flight tracking with ADS-B. What ICAO and IATA codes actually mean is explained in the article IATA and ICAO codes explained. You can find more tips for hunting rarities under Spotting rare aircraft.

The ATR 42-600S: the short-takeoff aircraft that never came

A footnote with collector value is the ATR 42-600S. The “S” stood for STOL, that is, short takeoff and landing. ATR unveiled the variant in 2019 and launched the program in October 2019 with around 20 commitments from leasing companies and airlines. The aircraft was designed for runways of around 800 meters in length and would thus have reached airfields that are too short for a standard ATR 42-600.

The prototype first flew on May 11, 2022. In November 2024, however, ATR halted development: the addressable market turned out smaller than expected. For spotters that means an ATR 42-600S will not show up in scheduled service; the prototype remains a rarity from the test phase.

Spotting in practice: planning for turboprops

Because the ATR 42-600 needs such short distances, it often lifts off much earlier than the jets you see at the same airport. If you stand at the runway end, it can already pass over you at considerable altitude. A vantage point to the side of the runway, around the middle of the runway, is usually more productive for takeoffs. On landings, by contrast, its approach is similar to other regional aircraft; the runway direction in use tells you which side is active. How to estimate it in advance is covered in the article Understanding the runway direction in use at an airport.

Whether your vantage point is legally unproblematic is answered by the article Is plane spotting allowed?. And if you are just getting started, Plane spotting for beginners will get you on course quickly.

Photo tips especially for the ATR 42-600

The ATR 42-600 is small but photogenic: high wing, striking T-tail and two big propellers. To make the picture look lively, there are a few special points.

When the light is right at your spot, you work out beforehand; how that works is explained in Planning the sun position for your photo spot. Which focal lengths suit which situation can be found in the article Lens for plane spotting: the right focal length.

Common mix-ups and how to rule them out

Conclusion

The ATR 42-600 is ATR’s smallest current turboprop and a real rarity in German-speaking countries. High wing, T-tail and six-blade propellers lead you to the ATR, the compact proportions to the 42, and the registration finally confirms the -600. If you are looking for one on purpose, you need patience, an alert on AT46 – or a trip to the island networks where it is at home.