Avions De Transport Regional (ATR) and British Aerospace (BAE) joint venture The Commission has authorized a joint venture between Aerospatiale, Alenia and British Aerospace in the regional aircraft sector for a transition period of 5 years. The final objective of this project is the concentration of the parties' activities in the regional aircraft se... The Commission has authorized a joint venture between Aerospatiale, Alenia and British Aerospace in the regional aircraft sector for a transition period of 5 years. The final objective of this project is the concentration of the parties' activities in the regional aircraft sector. At the moment these activities include the products of ATR (turboprop jets ATR 42 and 72) as well as those of BAE (turboprops, Jetstream and regional jets Avro and BAE). During the first stage of the cooperation the parties will pool and rationalize customer service resources such as marketing, sales and after-sales service. They will create a single integrated training centre in Naples for pilots and will jointly undertake feasibility studies for new aircrafts in the sector. The joint venture will also undertake research and development activities. It is this first stage, with a duration of five years, to which the Commission's decision refers. In the Commission's analysis, the present situation in the relevant market was an essential factor. The market for regional aircraft has a world-wide dimension. The main manufacturers operate in all continents. A distinction should be made between jet and turboprop aircraft. In its 1991 "de Havilland" Decision the Commission distinguished between three segments within turboprop aircraft according to their seating capacity.
