Thu, Feb 01, 2007
TBM 850 Takes VLJ Market Head On
Chairman and CEO of EADS
Socata Stéphane Mayer, held a press conference in Paris
Monday to brief the media on his company's status. He says the
company experienced significant growth in both earnings and orders
last year.
"In 2006 we recorded a 21% growth of our revenue, and a growing
backlog of 562 M€ ($ 725 million) which leaves us with good
perspectives for 2007 and after," said Mayer, "This growth is the
result of the commercial success of our Very Fast Turboprop TBM
850, a sustained activity in Aerostructure programs, and
significant customer support contracts. EADS Socata has achieved a
228 millions euros ($294 million) turnover."
Socata announced the TBM 850 in December 2005, and has since
positioned the plane to compete with the coming wave of very light
jets. The company claims it has met expectations for 2006, with 42
deliveries -- that's nine more than the 31 TBM 700 deliveries in
2005. Socata says the TBM 850 offers its pilots and operators what
they expected: a maximum cruising speed of 320 KTAS at flight level
260, combining the cruising speed and trip times of a light jet
with the economic direct operating costs, range and useful load of
a proven, world-class, single-engine turboprop.
Mayer says Socata enjoyed similar success with its
aerocomposites and customer service branches. Owning contracts with
Airbus, Dassault, Embraer and Eurocopter, Socata is growing a
reputation as a quality supplier of composite components for new
aircraft assembly and the retrofit market. The company is in the
running for sub-contractor work on Airbus' upcoming A350XWB.
Socata also holds service contracts with several major European
organizations including full operational maintenance of the TBM
military fleet and the fleet of the French military pilot training
school. The company also earned a 10-year $224 million contract in
partnership with EADS Defense for engineering, maintenance and
logistics support.
Mayer says Socata's has set a target of 50 TBM 850 sales this
year. He says the goal is within reach considering the company
currently enjoys a backlog of 40 aircraft.
EADS Socata says it's manufactured more than 17,000 aircraft
since its creation as Morane-Saulnier in 1911.
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