Association Met In Phoenix, AZ In September

An excellent turnout of the TBM community at this year’s annual TBM Owners and Pilots Association (TBMOPA) convention was recognized by Daher – the producer of this very fast turboprop aircraft family – which also saluted the association’s new chairman, Howard Janzen.

During the 2016 gathering, held September 21-25 at the famous Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, TBMOPA’s worldwide membership participated in three days of dynamic learning sessions customized for TBM owners and operators. The main focus was on airmanship and safety, with the emphasis this year on low-level loss of control as well as pilot situational awareness.

The convention brought together 305 participants and the presence of 101 Daher TBM aircraft – including five brand-new TBM 930s, along with many TBM 900, TBM 850 and TBM 700 versions.

As the TBM’s manufacturer, Daher introduced new retrofit options for earlier TBM versions, such as the integration of an angle-of-attack (AoA) indicator, a gaseous oxygen installation, and the addition of landing gear doors and winglets. “The TBMOPA convention reflects the growth of the TBM fleet, which reached its 800th delivery just one week before the start of the 2016 convention,” commented Nicolas Chabbert, Senior Vice President of the Daher Airplane Business Unit. “Through the annual meetings, we are able to meet new owners who have acquired both factory-new and used aircraft, with many of them representing different backgrounds and profiles.”

Among the 2016 convention’s key speakers was Mark Baker, President of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) – general aviation’s largest pilot organization. Baker praised the actions of organizations such as TBMOPA in promoting safety and motivating pilots. He also reviewed AOPA’s ongoing efforts to attract, retain, and revive the overall pilot population through several of the association's major initiatives.

He noted 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 added. “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 in San Antonio, Texas, from October 18 to 21, 2017.

Other featured speakers were Dr. Connie Mariano, who discussed her experience as director of the White House medical unit; and Tom Poberezny, the Experimental Aircraft Association’s President of Honor, speaking about “Aviation Intangibles,” along with the role of the EAA in growing and maintaining the pilot population. Colonel Rich Graham, a former SR-71 and U2 pilot recounted his experience on these high-flying aircraft; while Julie Clark who spoke about her airline and airshow careers.

Pilot companions were offered activities at the event as well, including a drive-out picnic in the Arizona desert and the now-traditional “pinch hitter” flight training program designed for non-pilot companions.

Replacing Frank McKee as TBMOPA’s chairman, Howard Janzen is well acquainted with TBM aircraft – being an active pilot with 7,000 flight hours, including 3,700 hours on his TBM 700C2 prior to purchasing a TBM 900 in 2014. He is the CEO of Cool Planet Energy Systems, and has been a committed TBMOPA member since joining the association in 2006, fulfilling various positions as a member of the board of directors.

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

(Image provided with Daher news release)

FMI: www.daher.com