Company Has A 30-Aircraft Backlog For 2013

Daher-Socata is showcasing the Model Year 2013 version of its TBM 850 Elite very fast turboprop at Florida’s Lakeland Linder Airport this week. Compared to last year’s model, the company says an important cockpit enhancement is the integration of L-3 Avionics Systems’ Trilogy ESI-2000 Electronic Standby Instrument (ESI), which replaces the previous electro-mechanical instrument version. As the first solidstate integrated standby system specifically created for general aviation, the advanced solid-state Trilogy ESI-2000 has an internal battery and easy-to-read 4 X 3-inch active matrix liquid crystal display.

“The tremendous customer interest in our TBM 850 Elite version following its debut last year is confirmed in 2013 with a backlog for 30 aircraft,” explained Nicolas Chabbert, Senior Vice President of Daher-Socata’s Airplane Division, and President of SOCATA North America. “Without doubt, the improvements introduced inside and out, along with enhancements to the aircraft’s comprehensive maintenance program, increase the already high value of our TBM 850 aircraft for both owners and operators.”

Daher-Socata has put together a special package for its Model Year 2013 featuring such benefits as a deluxe leather interior with a storage cabinet, wooden or carbon-fiber fittings and 14-Volt DC power plugs. This package also includes DAHERSOCATA’s Highly Extended Exclusive Maintenance Program, which lowers scheduled maintenance costs for five years or 1,000 hours.

For 2013, Daher-Socata has introduced a New Maintenance Program (NMP), with recommended maintenance intervals of 200 hours (instead of the previous 100 hours) or 12 months – whichever occurs first. The NMP is available on new production aircraft, while the transition for previously-delivered TBM 850 can be made during their annual inspection. The year’s program is completed by the CAMP tracking system, which enables owners to easily follow an aircraft’s maintenance. Additional safety options in the 2013 Elite package are a GPS-linked emergency locator transmitter, and a pulsed light system that alternately flashes the landing, taxi and recognition lights 45 times-per-minute to increase the aircraft’s visibility.

Daher-Socata developed the TBM 850 Elite to offer unique capability in tailoring the passenger cabin to meet operators’ needs. Its middle seats can be oriented in a forward-facing position, while the rear seats are removable. In approximately 30 minutes, the TBM 850 Elite can be reconfigured in a four-seat cabin, increasing the luggage volume capacity by three and doubling the maximum luggage weight. Primary technical changes in the TBM 850 Elite are the new intermediate seats, whose base is narrower; and a forward shift in positioning of the passenger oxygen system, which enables passengers to be assisted in both the cabin’s six- and four-seat configurations.

Popular options include a full avionics suite with Garmin’s Synthetic Vision System dynamic terrain imaging, Chartview electronic chart database, and the GSR 56 Iridium satellite datalink transceiver for global connectivity – providing on-demand weather information, text/voice communications and near real-time  position tracking. Daher-Socata’s TBM 850 is the world’s fastest single turboprop aircraft, with a maximum cruising speed of 320 KTAS at Flight Level 260 (in ISA conditions). It combines cruising speed and trip times of a light jet with the economic direct operating costs, range and moderate environmental signature of a turboprop engine. The maximum range and useful load – which are enhanced on the current version – as well as the ability to land at small airports are some of its customers’ favorite features.

(Images provided by Daher-Socata)

FMI: www.tbm850.com