The abbreviation ATR stands for Air Transport Rack in the military field, especially in the US. You can find more abbreviations starting with AT here. Also take a look at our list with military acronyms.
The Standard Housing of Avionics
The Air Transport Rack is the standard mounting rack for avionics equipment in military aircraft: a standardized housing with defined dimensions, cooling and connectors. Devices built for the ATR standard fit into any aircraft that uses this standard.
Why the Standard Exists
Avionics must be interchangeable: a radio from one manufacturer should fit into the rack of another. The ATR standard defines the mechanics precisely – from the width (measured in units of 1/8, from ATR short to ATR long) to the shock mounts. This makes maintenance and upgrades dramatically easier.
ATR appears in this meaning constantly in avionics documentation. It is one of the quiet standards on which military aviation is built – invisible to the passenger, indispensable for the technician.
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