A record turnout at this year’s TBM Owners and Pilots Association annual convention in Texas

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Turboprop Aircraft - DAHER TBM 960, TBM 910

A record turnout at this year’s TBM Owners and Pilots Association annual convention in Texas
A record turnout at this year’s TBM Owners and Pilots Association annual convention in Texas
2017 Published on 
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A record turnout at this year’s TBM Owners and Pilots Association annual convention in Texas

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San Antonio, Texas, USA, October 25, 2017 – The 2017 TBM Owners and Pilots Association (TBMOPA) convention brought together an all-time high of 117 TBMs for this year’s event, underscoring the annual gathering’s importance, as well as the growing number of Daher-built very fast turboprop aircraft in operation worldwide.

Converging at San Antonio’s International airport were aircraft representing all TBM versions produced by Daher to date: the TBM 700, TBM 850 and TBM 900-series.

In total, 325 participants attended the convention, held October 18-22 at the San Antonio Hill Country Resort, with the TBMOPA’s worldwide membership participating in three days of dynamic learning sessions customized for TBM owners and operators. The main focus was on airmanship and safety, with an emphasis this year on maintaining flight control at low level, along with pilot situational awareness.

As the TBM’s manufacturer, Daher introduced new retrofit options for earlier TBM versions, such as the G1000 NXi avionics update, the integration of an angle-of-attack (AoA) indicator, installation of a gaseous oxygen system and the addition of landing gear doors.

“The 2017 TBMOPA convention reflects the TBM fleet’s continued expansion, with overall deliveries of our very fast turboprop aircraft now surpassing the 860-unit milestone and a new aircraft delivered almost every week,” commented Nicolas Chabbert, Senior Vice President of the Daher Airplane Business Unit. “In San Antonio, we were able to meet many new members of the TBM family who represent different backgrounds and profiles.”

Chabbert noted that the TBMOPA convention coincided with Daher’s handover of the 200th aircraft in the TBM 900-series: a TBM 910 version received by Cutter Aviation, the Texas-based TBM Authorized Distributor.

He also confirmed Daher’s ongoing support for the TBMOPA’s activities, with the member organization acknowledged as the aviation industry’s closest working relationship between an aircraft manufacturer and its owners/pilots association.

This year’s TBMOPA convention included three days of dynamic academic sessions customized for the TBM, featuring presentations by Daher as the aircraft manufacturer, along with TBM system vendors such as Pratt & Whitney Canada (producer of the TBM’s PT6 turboprop engine) and Hartzell (the TBM propeller supplier).

Among the 2017 convention’s key speakers were Captain John M. Cox, the CEO of Safety Operating Systems; Tony James, a former FAA Senior Air Safety Investigator who discussed recurring themes in high-profile accidents; and Erik Elliel, who provided details on the TBM weather radar’s optimal use.

Continued at this year’s event were the highly-appreciated activities for companions of TBM owners and operators, including the “pinch hitter” flight training program for non-pilots and a tour of the famous Alamo historical site.

“The 2017 TBMOPA convention marked another step in meeting our association’s goal of promoting safety and providing opportunities to maximize both the pleasure and utility of the TBM ownership experience,” TBMOPA Chairman Howard Janzen explained. “We very much appreciate Daher’s efforts in supporting safety-based enhancements to existing aircraft as well as for their new production aircraft. It is a sign of the TBM manufacturer’s long-term commitment to the product line.”

He added that participation of TBMOPA members in the convention’s academic portion qualifies attendees for savings on insurance premiums.

“Participating underwriters recognize the value of the TBMOPA safety enhancement program and offer owners a credit for as much as 10 percent of the hull premium after a claim-free year,” Janzen said. “These insurance savings, plus the added safety awareness and operational knowledge gained from the technical seminars, are compelling reasons to attend the TBMOPA annual convention!”

The next TBMOPA annual convention will be held September 12-15, 2018 in the U.S. at Greenbrier Valley, West Virginia. www.tbmowners.org

About the Daher TBM – www.tbm.aero

The TBM 910 and TBM 930 are the latest members in Daher’s TBM family of very fast single-engine turboprop aircraft. Differences between the two models are concentrated on their primary avionics: Garmin’s G1000 NXi avionics system with physical keypad for the TBM 900; Garmin’s G3000 with touchscreen controller for the TBM 930.

Both aircraft offer superior performance – a maximum cruise speed of 330 kts. – and high efficiency with a 1,730-naut. mi. maximum range and a fuel consumption at economy cruise of 37 U.S. gallons per hour. This results from aerodynamic improvements, along with other aircraft enhancements. The maximum range and useful load, as well as the ability to land at small airports, are some of the customers’ favorite features.

To date, a total of 860 TBM aircraft have been delivered to international owners and operators, with the global fleet accumulating some 1.5 million flight hours.

TBM 900-series aircraft already have received more than 200 orders since their launch, with 197 delivered through September 30th, 2017. They are built by Daher on its industrial site at the airport of Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées (Hautes Pyrénées), France.

About Daher – www.daher.com

Daher is an equipment supplier developing integrated industrial systems for aerospace and advanced technologies.

By combining its expertise in industrial manufacturing, product and process engineering, logistics and transport, and industrial services, Daher designs and develops Integrated Industrial Systems. Daher has established itself as a leader in five fields of activity: aircraft manufacturer, aerostructure and systems, integrated logistics, nuclear services, and valves.

Daher posts annual turnover of nearly one billion euros, and its order book stands at around three and a half years of turnover. Driven by bold innovation ever since it was founded in 1863, Daher has established itself today as one of the major players of the third industrial revolution.

Contact for the media – Airplane Business Unit

Philippe de Segovia
E-mail p.de-segovia@daher.com
Tel +33 (0)6 70 21 70 47

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