News
Thales delivers major milestone on ATR program

Dec. 17, 2008, Montreal – Today is an important landmark for Thales’s aerospace
business with the successful power-on of the Thales avionics suite installed on the ATR -600
pre-series aircraft.

Thales was selected in 2007 as Tier 1 systems integrator for the new ATR glass flight deck
and is responsible for integrating systems provided by other suppliers. Based on state-of-theart
technology in integrated modular avionics (IMA) and AFDX communication networks, this
new cockpit comprises five LCD displays, the flight management system (FMS) and the
latest and most accurate communication and navigation systems, as well as a new automatic
pilot with Cat 3A approach capability.

In accordance with the initial contract schedule, Thales delivered the hardware elements of
the avionics suite as well as the software needed for power-on of the ATR, which was
completed successfully. This achievement was the result of close collaboration between
Thales and ATR over a period of several months.

This first delivery is an important milestone and will allow Thales and ATR to begin the
aircraft integration and verification phases in preparation for the first flight, scheduled for
2009.

Commenting on this important milestone, Luigi Lombardi, ATR SVP Operations, declared:
“We are proud of starting the ground tests of the aircraft, which represent the result of work
done in the last months, in partnership with Thales. We congratulate our teams, which are
working around the clock.” He concluded: “Thanks to such efforts, we are on track with the
development calendar of the ‘-600 series’ ATRs.”

“We are extremely proud to have delivered the systems required by ATR after 14 months of
collaboration together, and to have thus contributed to the success of the power-on
operation. The ATR -600 pre-series aircraft heralds a significant advance in the turboprop
market, and we will continue our efforts in preparation for the aircraft’s first flight,” said Alain
Boursier, Thales, Vice President in charge of regional and business jet aircraft.

About ATR
Toulouse-based regional aircraft manufacturer ATR is the world leader in the 50- to 74-seat turboprop
market. ATR is an equal partnership between Alenia Aeronautica (a Finmeccanica company) and
EADS, and counts 140 operators in 80 countries.

The new ATR 42-600 and ATR 72-600 will feature the latest technological enhancements while
building on the well known advantages of the current aircraft, namely its high efficiency, proven
dispatch reliability, low fuel burn and reduced operating costs. The ATR -600 series aircraft will be progressively introduced in the beginning of 2011.