Why did the BAeATP perform so badly?

[Skipness One Echo]

In comparison with the Fokker 50 and the ATR42 / 72 it was a commercial disaster. Why was this the case?

Fokker made their baseline F-27 into something better that sold well. What did BAe do so badly wrong with the HS748?

[tubby linton]

The 748 sold well but the ATP will always be known as "Another Technical Problem"

[waco]

........it is very good indeed on fuel

however it is very good at doing ice cube impersinations and the di-ice system often likes to have a rest.

Problems with the nose wheel didnt help.

Has now found an excellent role in freight - however it has also been know as

Antiquated technoligy Perpetuated.

[steve wilson]

In search of good operating economics its engines were underpowered. I had many a scary take-off from Sumburgh airport flying in ATPs. It was very fuel-efficient, but slow. Also at the time the ATP was launched it was facing stiff competition from the newly launched Regional Jets, which airlines and passengers preferred. The Fokker 50, ATRs and DHC -8s all had the advantage over the ATP of good short-field performance.

Steve

[oldlag53]

Also known in airline circles as the Yugo, as in 'yugo and tell the pax their flight's gone tech...'

[Jn14:6]

T'was known up in Scotland as the 16 Shillings..............'cos 16 shillings is -A-T-P !!!
Sorry.

[compton3bravo]

As well as Another Technical Problem it was also called a YUGO - You Go and tell them it is not flying today!

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

I'm sure it was ATP crews who, in responding to "Report a/c type..." would say "Lada"... until they were stopped by management! Someone might confirm?

[mccdatabase]

Ours were referred to as "sky skodas" !!

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

You're right..... "Skoda", of course! Sorry Mr Lada for the grievous insult!

[5552N0426W]

In engineering lingo it was YUGO - you go fix

We had one that didn't fly straight!!

Ah them days of GLA-JER and GLA-GCI packing them in and fingers crossed that it comes back servicable>

Washing machine repair men in NOC were goog with tools!

[StoneyBridge Radar]

What's your rate of climb?

Positive :}:E

[Wycombe]

Its predecessor the 748 was of course the "Budgie", and in that vain I once heard the ATP refererred to as the "Advanced Turbo Pidgeon"!

To me it always looked just wrong with that extended noseleg and the consequently slightly drooping rear end.

[G SXTY]

I hear scary stories from those who flew them that the ATP's climb rate on both engines was similar to a Dash 8-400 on one. :ooh:

It's single engine climb rate was, by all reports, interesting . . .

[TURIN]

ATP?

Avros Taking the P1ss.:\

[clareview]

I flew many times on the ATP with Loganair, Manx, British Midland and BA from BFS and BHD to most Birtish regional airports. I have no recollection of major delays or cancellations.

[compton3bravo]

clareview - YOU WERE LUCKY! WE DREAMED OF NO DELAYS!

[waco]

I really must protest..........

Scandalous

how dare you

my Skoda Fabia was FAR better than any ATP, ever!!!!!

[idol detent]

I've certainly called it the "Lada" when reporting a/c type. Also in common use was "A skip", "A parrot" ('cause it's bigger than a Budgie, but always as sick as..), "Skoda", "Yugo", "Another Terrible Plane" etc

It was good at stopping & descending. Defying gravity, however, was a very unequal struggle at the best of times. I've had in excess of 10,000fpm in descent (The PFD vertical speed indicator stops at 99 btw :eek:). Landing LSI 09 and vacating down rwy 15 was regularly achievable...

Certainly in its early days there were numerous problems with hydraulics, pneumatics, PFDs blanking (not enough static wicks to dissipate St Elmo's :D), engines & a myriad of other niggles.
It was slow, unreliable and I didn't particularly enjoy flying it compared to the 748 as it was quite fussy in rudder - you were always farting around with the rudder trim. Or maybe that was just me!
I guess that's why it didn't sell well?
Wouldn't have swapped the experience though. Happy days.