Daher’s Very Fast Turboprop Aircraft Line Begins The 2016 Air Show Season At Lakeland Airport

Two days after unveiling its TBM 930, Daher brings this latest member of the TBM very fast turboprop aircraft family for a North American debut during the Sun ’n Fun International Fly-In Expo at Florida’s Lakeland Airport.

The TBM 930 incorporates further upgrades to its avionics suite, building on Daher’s TBM 900 version, of which they have delivered more than 110 aircraft since its launch two years ago.

“We had an enthusiastic response to the TBM 930’s unveiling on April 5 at our final assembly line in Tarbes, France,” explained Nicolas Chabbert, the Senior Vice President of Daher’s Airplane Business Unit and CEO of SOCATA North America. “The TBM 930 underscores Daher’s commitment to continue evolving the TBM family, while also positioning ourselves for future developments.”

Chabbert said initial orders already have been booked for the TBM 930, with first customer deliveries beginning this month. The TBM 930 has received its certification from the European EASA and U.S. FAA airworthiness authorities.

In addition to the TBM 930’s introduction, Daher has integrated the company’s e- copilot function on Model Year 2016 aircraft for both the TBM 900 and TBM 930 versions, incorporating the following systems and functionality for reduced pilot workload:

• A sensor and angle of attack (AOA) calculator, providing angle of attack information on the primary flight display.
• Electronic stabilization and protection systems (ESP) and Under Speed Protection (USP), which are connected to the AOA computer. These electronic monitoring and stability augmentation systems assist the pilot in maintaining the aircraft in a stable flight condition when flight parameters are exceeded.
• An emergency descent mode (EDM) in the autopilot, which places the aircraft in automatic descent to a safe altitude of 15,000-ft. in the event of cabin depressurization and lack of pilot response; and,
• New voice alerts – providing notification on stall, overspeed, landing gear status and oxygen mask use – which replace aural sounds for better warning identification.

With the TBM product line expansion, distinguishing differences between the TBM 900 and TBM 930 are concentrated on their primary avionics.

New this year is the TBM 900’s Bluetooth FS 210 connection system, which enables the use of a tablet or smart phone to prepare maps and flight plans.

Introducing the TBM 930 integrates Garmin’s G3000 avionics suite. Its instrument panel's three wide-format WXGA displays can operate in a split- screen mode, enabling maps and flight plans to remain on the screen side-by-side with primary, traffic and weather information.

Daher explains the glass touchscreen controller serves as the pilot’s primary point of entry for the G3000 system, displaying communication and navigation controls. In addition, they say the G3000 avionics suite’s high resolution displays enhance the presentation of simulated 3-D perspective topography for Garmin’s SVT Synthetic Vision Technology.

Daher says they have developed an enhanced interior for the TBM 930 with redesigned seating and headrests, along with a new choice of wood or carbon finishes. For an additional touch of style, polished metal is used for handles, door sills and steps.

(Image by Airborne Films provided by Daher. Airborne Films crew with Stephane Jacques, Daher’s chief Test Pilot (center) during the ferry flight to SnF)

FMI: www.daher.com